Support to Cultural and Educational Activities Undertaken by Public Service Broadcasting, Media Professionals and Journalists to Reduce Violence in the Media

The General Conference,

Bearing in mind UNESCO's commitment to communication in the service of humanity,

Mindful of the dangers, in particular for children, young people and women, of violence in video and television programmes and electronic games,

Expressing its gratitude to the Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication and to the Indian National Commission for UNESCO for the holding of the international round table on non­violence, tolerance and television (New Delhi, 1 April 1994),

Noting with satisfaction that, following that round table, the Secretariat drew up an international list of guiding principles formulated by various television companies with a view to reducing violence on television,

Recalling the conclusions of the international seminar on the target family: the image of the family in media productions (Courmayeur, 19­21 March 1995),

Taking into account the conclusions of the international round table on the cultural and educational functions of public service broadcasting (UNESCO, Paris, 3­5 July 1995),

Recalling Article 17 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the efforts made by the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO to organize an international seminar on violence on the screen and the rights of the child (Lund, Sweden, 26­27 September 1995),

Expressing satisfaction at the emphasis placed by the Director­General on action designed to encourage debate between professional media circles and representatives of civil society on the need to reduce violence on the screen, Invites Member States:

(a) to support public service radio and television broadcasting so that it can fulfil its cultural and educational mandate;

(b) to encourage media professionals (responsible for production, programming and creation) to study possible ways and means of reducing violence on the screen, especially in fictional programmes;

(c) to encourage journalists to give thought to violence in news programmes and to take steps towards reducing such violence, doing so in accordance with the codes of ethics established by the profession, and by the profession alone;

(d) to make a positive contribution to international debate on this subject.