"I am so glad to rejoin this training series, and this time we had the opportunity to contribute to producing short audio spots that can help increase community awareness about child labour prevention," shared a media professional from Luang Prabang Radio Broadcasting.
On 29–30 June, 18 media professionals and journalists from Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang Province gathered in Luang Prabang for the second session of the Media Training Series, organized under the Child Protection for Child Labour Prevention in Luang Prabang (CPPCL) Project, funded by the European Union.
During the training, participants strengthened their understanding of child protection in communications and media, including the risks associated with reporting on children and how to ensure ethical and responsible coverage. Through interactive discussions and group exercises, participants collaborated to develop short Public Service Announcement (PSA) audio spots on key topics related to child labour prevention. These included understanding what constitutes child labour, distinguishing between age-appropriate household chores and child labour, and promoting children's rights. These spots were developed in response to project findings showing that child labour remains widely accepted in many communities. The findings also highlighted common misconceptions that children's work does not affect their education, limited awareness of the risks and harmful forms of child labour, and gaps in knowledge about children's rights, particularly among girls.
The training also provided an opportunity for participants to translate legal and policy information into simple, relatable messages that resonate with local communities.
One participant from Lao National Television reflected:
"We have very limited communication materials on child labour prevention, especially those that use simple and accessible language while still reflecting the law and protecting children's rights. I encourage all of us to disseminate these audio spots widely and hope to see more child labour prevention messages shared through our channels and communication platforms."
This training is part of the CPPCL Project’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of local media professionals and build a network of media advocates who can help raise public awareness and contribute to the prevention of child labour across Lao PDR.
Together, the media can play an important role in informing communities, promoting children's rights, and encouraging actions that help reduce child labour and protect children's wellbeing.
