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Press Council warns against media generalization of pedophilia with homosexuality
The Press Council has warned against media reports generalizing pedophilia in direct correlation to homosexuality, due to concerns over further stigmatization of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
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A man walks past an anti-LGBT banner erected by an ultra-conservative Islamic group in Jakarta, March 17. (AP/Tatan Syuflana)
T
he Press council has warned against media reports generalizing pedophilia in direct correlation to homosexuality, due to concerns over further stigmatization of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
"Journalists have the responsibility to report accurate facts and are not allowed to attach assumptions that could prompt stigmatization of community groups," Press Council chairman Yosep Stanley Adi Prasetyo told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Stanley's remarks addressed the recent case in the uncovering of an online prostitution ring involving nearly 150 boys in Bogor, West Java. Several media reports have tied the case to homosexuality, allegedly because the boys were victims of male clients.
According to Stanley, pedophilia is completely separate from homosexuality. The former is a sexual disorder in which perpetrators targeting underage children can be of either homosexual or heterosexual orientation. Meanwhile, homosexuality is an issue of gender.
Stanley warned that such a deliberate connection could risk further fueling the discrimination of the already marginalized LGBT community.
Stanley called on any related media to correct their reporting. He also urged reporters to educate themselves on relevant issues by getting involved in available journalism training, such as those provided by the National Commission on Human Rights, to spur ongoing improvement of knowledge in ensuring proper reporting.
He encouraged the public, including NGO's and advocates of the LGBT community, to report media that has violated the journalism code of ethics. (dmr)
