Swiss Press Council reprimands "Le Matin" for reporting on abused child
The newspaper «Le Matin» allegedly violated the victim’s privacy and dignity with an article about the sexual assault of a girl in Valais.
In January 2017, "Le Matin" reported on a case of sexual assault against a child in Valais. The Swiss Press Council has now ruled that some of the information contained in the article was superfluous and violated the privacy and dignity of the victim. "Le Matin" should have shown particular restraint in this case in order to protect the child, who had already been severely beaten. At the same time, the Press Council acknowledges that the reporting in "Le Matin" did not encourage sensationalism and that some of the information was useful to understand the context.
The article, which appeared in the print edition and online, contains information about the victim, his family and his everyday life. The abuse of the child is described in detail. The municipality of residence is mentioned and a pseudonym is used for the victim's name. The victim's parents lodged a complaint with the Swiss Press Council. They are of the opinion that their daughter's privacy and dignity have been violated by this publication and that it is possible to identify their daughter.
Can the media generally report on a crime against a child and publish details about the victim? For the Press Council, this is only permissible if particular care is taken to protect the minors concerned. (pd/akk)
