The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) says journalists have a critical role to play in ensuring that rights of children in the country are protected at all levels.

UNICEF communications officer, Rebecca Phwitiko, said this during a child rights reporting symposium in Salima organised in collaboration with the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ).

According to Phwitiko, a strategic partnership with journalists who report on issues to do with children is progressive move towards upholding rights of children.

She said: “We feel that this is a good way to improve the advocacy on children and also to draw attention to the issues that matter to children in this country.

In terms of sustainability we look at strategic partnerships and so we hope that through this interaction we have had with journalists on child issues across different themes like education and health we hope it will help in building their passion.”

And on his part, MIJ Executive Director, Antony Phanga, has urged journalists in the country to strengthen their efforts towards advocating the rights of children in all spheres of life.

“I feel though that there is still space for us to add more on issues to do with children, specifically how we promote the rights of children, how we broadcast and how we teach people to respect those rights,” said Phanga.

Meanwhile, one of the journalists who has won an award on child reporting, Alepher Kasongo, from the state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC),  said she will remain committed in fighting for children`s rights.

In the category of media houses, Nation Publications Limited (NPL) emerged the first position followed by YONECO Radio.