The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that protecting the rights of the newborn child found several days ago requires a sensitive approach and the implementation of comprehensive measures.
In connection with the case, the Human Rights Defender considers important the measures taken by the competent state authorities and medical institutions, including those aimed at ensuring the child’s protection, medical care, and support.
At the same time, the Defender considers the recent dissemination, through mass media and social media platforms, of photographs and videos of the child taken while the child was receiving medical care to be concerning. Subsequently, the name given to the child was also made public in another publication, as a result of which additional information enabling the identification of the child became publicly available.
The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that, particularly in the case of a child in such a vulnerable situation, every instance of publication and dissemination of information concerning the child must be assessed from the perspective of the child’s best interests. When covering matters of public interest, the best interests of the child must be given priority.
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The Defender also considers it important that, when publishing or disseminating photographs of the child or other data enabling the child’s identification, the principle of proportionality in the processing of personal data be ensured. This requires assessing not only the public significance of publishing the information, but also its potential impact on the child’s future life. This is particularly important given that all of the aforementioned data may make it possible to identify the person and their vulnerable circumstances in the future.
The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that the potential consequences of disseminating information concerning the child must be considered not only at the present moment, but also in the context of the child’s future life.
From this perspective, the Human Rights Defender urges all persons disseminating information concerning the child to exercise the utmost caution and sensitivity and to refrain from the unnecessary publication and further dissemination of the child’s photographs, videos, name, and other identifying information.
In this regard, the Human Rights Defender’s Office is also cooperating with the Personal Data Protection Agency of the Ministry of Justice. The Human Rights Defender considers it important that the Agency shares a similar position.
Human Rights Defender
