The Cyprus media ethics committee on Tuesday issued a strong warning to all media outlets and journalists, urging them to act with restraint when reporting cases involving children, especially when those reports risk identifying minors.

The statement came after intense media coverage of a domestic violence case under investigation in Greece, where two children are reported as victims. The committee said it felt compelled to intervene “given the involvement of individuals from Cyprus” and the sensitive nature of the case.

Expressing “serious concern,” the committee stressed that several media reports had revealed details that could lead to the identification of the minors involved, not just the victims but other children as well.

It said such coverage may breach article 9 of the code of journalistic ethics, which prohibits naming a child without both the child’s and a legal guardian’s consent, unless there is exceptional public interest.

The watchdog warned that even limited details, especially in a small society like Cyprus, can be enough to identify children within their communities, exposing them to further emotional harm and social stigma.

“The protection of minors is a fundamental duty of a law-abiding society,” the committee concluded.

“Journalism must be guided by this principle above all else.”