The UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Mrs Mary Robinson, said yesterday that the privacy of the daughter of the British child killer, Ms Mary Bell, had been "hugely invaded" by the media.
Discussing press shortcomings at a UN meeting marking World Press Freedom Day, she said there was "a huge need to respect the innocent and those who have a right to their privacy".
She cited a furore that built up last week in Britain over Ms Bell, who was 11 when she strangled two toddlers 30 years ago and kept her identity secret after she left prison in 1980 and started a new life. After serialisation of a new book about Ms Bell, the media staked out her home, forcing police to put her under protection. The media onslaught led to Ms Bell's 14-year-old daughter discovering the truth about her mother for the first time.
"The very widespread media-led story about the story of her life has hugely invaded the privacy of Mary Bell's daughter," Mrs Robinson said.
The daughter did not know about her mother's past, and "has had to live with this background, had to leave and go into hiding," she said.
Mrs Robinson, who also praised journalists, said it was very important "not to reduce complex situations to sound bites."
"And that is what is happening. And the media is part of the problem and has to assume a responsibility to follow through, to go into detail, to be prepared even to lose viewers or readers because, in fact, it is important that the rounded story be told," she added.