The Office of the Commissioner for Children has no qualms about competitions such as the junior Eurovision, which may result on the glorification of children, and believes that the media has a role to play in protecting such children.

“The Office of the Commissioner for Children is wholly in favour of celebrating the talents, achievements and successes of children and youths as it not only helps them to reap the rewards of their commitment and hard work but also allows them to serve as role models for their own peers who are thus encouraged to discover and develop their own talents. Thus children and youths should be given the recognition that they deserve,” the Office said in reply to questions by The Malta Independent.

Gaia Cauchi,11, hit the headlines last week when she won the junior Eurovision competition. A few days later, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat raised a few eyebrows when he nominated Gaia for the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.

The Office of the Commissioner for Children believes that the media has a role to play in protecting children in the public eye.

As a means of communication that panders to the likes of a mass audience, the media has the power to considerably influence the scale and form of the portrayal of children. The Office is concerned that, in certain circumstances, media coverage and exposure of children may be overwhelming for children in that children who become the centre of public attention as a result of their portrayal in the media may not be able to cope with such attention,” the Office said.

The Office said that children like Gaia who find themselves thrust into the limelight should still be given the time and space to grow and develop.

“Any public attention that is directed at children, whatever the circumstance, should not detract from the ability of children to enjoy their childhood and live peacefully and serenely in order to grow slowly and unhurriedly into adulthood,” the Office said.