Douala: MTN Cameroon, Plan Int’l equip journalists on children online protection.

The session brought together professionals from the print, broadcast and online media, with magistrates, health specialists and child-safeguarding experts. The journalists were urged to put the best interests of the child ahead of the demands of news gathering and publication.

Discussions came against the backdrop of the growing circulation of children's images and personal information on social media, where content can remain accessible long after the original incident has faded from public attention.

A child's image can become a lifelong burden

Magistrate Ulrich Xavier Ovono Ondoua, President of the Club of Ambassadors of Positive Masculinity, CAMP, illustrated the danger with the case of a five-year-old girl whose photograph had circulated widely online after she was allegedly sexually assaulted in a school.

The image was repeatedly shared by internet users, influencers, whistleblowers and journalists. The magistrate challenged the practice, asking whether publishing the child's photograph actually added anything to the evidence contained in the report. He warned that the consequences could follow the child into adulthood.

He said a girl who grows up and later discovers her photograph online, attached to reports about the violence she suffered as a child, could be forced to confront a painful past that she had been trying to leave behind.

For him, the central question journalists must ask before publishing information involving a minor is simple: Is this publication in the best interests of the child? He stressed that professional journalism is governed by ethical and legal obligations and cannot operate like an unregulated social media platform.

Law protects children's identity

Participants were reminded that child protection in journalism is not merely an ethical recommendation, but also has legal implications.

The training referenced the Cameroon Penal Code, including provisions protecting the identity of child victims and restricting the disclosure of information capable of identifying minors involved in judicial proceedings.

The 2010 Law on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime was also highlighted. Magistrate Ovono Ondoua specifically cited Article 76 of Law No. 2010/012 of December 21, 2010, which provides penalties for producing, transporting or disseminating electronically content of a child pornographic nature or content likely to seriously harm a child's dignity.

The provision carries penalties of five to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of 5 million FCFA to 10 million FCFA. He also referred to Article 1382 of the Civil Code, which establishes the principle of civil liability and compensation for damage caused to others. 

Beyond Cameroon’s domestic legislation, journalists were reminded of the country's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Cameroon in 1993, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which entered into force in 1999.

Digital content has no expiry date

One of the strongest warnings from the training concerned the permanence of information published online. According to Magistrate Ovono Ondoua, children eventually become adults, but the information published about them does not necessarily disappear.

“A child eventually grows up and the information that is disseminated does not ultimately die because there is no such thing as digital death today,” he said.

The warning is particularly relevant in cases involving sexual violence, abuse, exploitation or other traumatic experiences, where the continued circulation of photographs and personal details can expose victims to renewed stigma and psychological distress. He urged journalists not to film or publish images of children in situations of indignity or vulnerability.

Violence leaves deep psychological scars

The medical dimension of the training was presented by Dr Jeannette Afounde, a public health physician, who explained that violence against children has consequences extending far beyond the immediate physical injuries. According to figures cited during the training, approximately one billion children aged two to 17 worldwide experience some form of violence each year.

In Cameroon, about one in three children is reported to experience physical violence, while girls remain particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. The situation is further aggravated in conflict-affected areas, notably the North West and South West Regions.

Dr Afounde explained that exposure to violence can trigger toxic stress, affecting children's neurological and hormonal systems and leaving them in a prolonged state of fear and alertness. The consequences can include trauma, nightmares, flashbacks, depression, difficulties at school, social isolation and other long-term psychological problems.

Journalists urged to adopt trauma-safety reporting

The training introduced participants to the principles of trauma-safety journalism, an approach designed to ensure that reporting on people who have experienced violence does not deepen their trauma.

The approach calls on journalists to consider the dignity, privacy, safety and long-term wellbeing of victims when gathering and publishing information.

Plan International Cameroon safeguarding and PSHEA specialist, Josiane Nzouke, addressed the representation and protection of children in communication, media and content, particularly during emergencies. She stressed the importance of safeguarding children's identity and dignity when reporting sensitive issues.

Participants were consequently encouraged not to publish identifiable images of children who are victims of violence, repeat sensitive statements made by children unnecessarily, or interview minors in ways that could pressure them into reliving traumatic experiences.

MTN stresses digital responsibility

Paul-Henry Bongo, Head of Communications at MTN Cameroon, said the initiative reflects the company's responsibility as an internet service provider and major player in Cameroon's digital ecosystem. 

“It is our duty to continue educating various users about the dangers we all face when misusing information related to vulnerable groups, especially children.”

The partnership with Plan International is therefore intended not only to strengthen journalists' professional capacity, but also to contribute to creating a safer digital environment for children.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3912 of Thursday September 17, 2026