Ethics committee condemns disclosure of sex crimes that have not yet been investigated

The Cyprus Committee on Media Ethics (CMEC) strongly condemns the publication in some media of details of uninvestigated sexual crimes, including abuse, abduction and exploitation, where the victims are minors.

Making public details of statements obtained by police investigators is a breach of the journalistic code of conductFirst, it does so in terms of journalistic reporting on sexual crimes, particularly those where the victims are minors, and second, it does so in relation to the privacy, dignity and other rights of children.

The CMEC hereby announces its intention to contact the police regarding the serious issues that have arisen regarding the leaking of sensitive statements and information from police investigations. It has been noted that this practice can affect the administration of justice and seriously damage the trust of victims in the police, especially in cases involving minors.

We call on journalists and the media to show responsibility and sensitivity in covering such cases. Attention must remain focused on the criminal acts under investigation, as well as on the systemic failures or loopholes that may have occurred or been discovered later that may have led to the crimes under investigation.

In no case should the media focus on the descriptions and representations of possible crimes, especially when it comes to crimes of a sexual nature committed against minors. The role and purpose of journalists is and remains to act as a catalyst, so that the victims of such cases feel that the authorities are providing them with everything they need to break their silence and expose the perpetrators.

Finally, the CMEC calls for strict adherence to the Journalistic Code of Conduct and journalistic standards, which protect the identity and well-being of vulnerable people.