Date of Presentation

THE CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND BUSINESS PRINCIPLES

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Background• Children’s rights are an essential investment in our

sustainable future. Safeguarding these rights helps build the strong, well-educated communities that are vital to creating a sustainable, inclusive and productive business environment

• A business that integrates respect and support for children into its strategy and operations generates benefits for children and society, and can generate real benefits for business

• Positive action for children’s rights can:• Build reputations• Improve risk management• Enhance the social license to operate – including gaining and

maintaining the support of the people who live and work where the business is conducted

Overview• The Children’s Rights and Business Principles are ten principles

that call on business everywhere to respect and support children’s rights throughout their activities and business relationships

• They identify actions that all business should take and are encouraged to maximize the positive impacts and minimize the negative ramifications that their activities may have on children

• The Principles are the result of an international multi-stakeholder consultation process in 2011, involving children, businesses, investors, trade unions, civil society, governments, academics, and UN entities

“Sustainability is most fundamentally about making the world a better place for the next generation. These Principles are therefore at the very heart of sustainability.” – Charlotte Ersbøll, Novo Nordisk

Basis of Legitimacy

• International Law• Convention on the Rights of the Child• ILO Conventions on Child Labour

• Soft Law• UN Global Compact• Guiding Principles on Business and

Human Rights

Built on existing standards, initiatives and best practices

The Children’s Rights and Business Principles

“The Children’s Rights and Business Principles are an important effort to explore the implications of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for the human rights of children. Children are among the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society, and can be disproportionately, severely and permanently impacted by business activities and relationships.” – Prof. John Ruggie, former UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Business and Human Rights

Core of the Principles• The UN Global Compact asks businesses to support and

respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights

• Respect – don’t cause harm (the minimum)• Support – make a positive contribution (desirable,

encouraged)• The Children’s Principles elaborate on what this means as

regards Children’s Rights

“Children are one third of the population today, but children are 100% of our future customer base, employees.”

- Richard Gillies, Marks and Spencer

Structure

responsibility to

RESPECT

commitment to

SUPPORT

Principle 1 – The Umbrella and Foundation

1 – Businesses should meet their responsibility to RESPECT children’s rights and commit to SUPPORTING the human rights of children

Principles 2, 3, 4 - THE WORKPLACE

Businesses should…

2 - … contribute to the elimination of CHILD LABOUR, including in all business activities and business relationships 3 - … provide decent work for YOUNG WORKERS, PARENTS and CAREGIVERS4 - … ensure the PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN in all business activities and facilities

Principles 5, 6, 7 - THE MARKETPLACE

Businesses should…5 - … Ensure that PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE SAFE and seek to support children’s rights through them6 - … use MARKETING AND ADVERTISING that respect and support children’s rights

Principles 8, 9, 10 - THE COMMUNITY

Businesses should…7 – … respect and support children’s rights in relation to the ENVIRONMENT AND TO LAND acquisition and use8 – … respect and support children’s rights in SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS9 – … help protect children affected by EMERGENCIES10 – … reinforce COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT EFFORTS to protect and fulfil children’s rights

Business Examples Royal Van Zanten Children’s center

RVZ is one of Uganda’s flower farms. It was the first farm to introduce and establish a fully equipped child care center for staff who had babies. This tremendously addressed the issue of staff absenteeism but there was as well as increased productivity because the mothers felt that the business cared about them and the welfare of their young children.

Aviva: Championing the Rights of street kidsAviva is forming partnerships with leading charities and experts whose work focuses on meeting the needs of children living and working on the streets. Aviva’s Street to School program supports initiatives that help and encourage these children back into school or training. The company’s goal is to help at least half a million street children by 2015. In the future, Aviva seeks to take these initiatives closer to its core business.

The New Vision Group: NiE for childrenNew vision group has the NiE where they develop education material for pupils , .At the end of the day they make their money but also distribute important material which is key to the . . . . . .

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Examples of Engagement Opportunities

• Use the principles for awareness raising and as guidance to assess impacts

• Engage in country level activity: Already nearly 40 national releases by local partners across the world following global launch in March 2012

• Share company experiences and good practices• Report on progress• Public commitment to the Principles in your

company policy

Resources• Website: www.childrenandbusiness.org• UNICEF, UN Global Compact & Save the Children:

• Children’s Rights and Business Principles • Children’s Rights and Business Principles in Context

• UN Global Compact – Good Practices per Principle• UNICEF:

• Children are Everyone's Business: Workbook 2.0• Implementation

Handbook for the Convention on the Rights of the Child• Children’s Rights and Sustainability Reporting• Children’s Rights in Impact Assessment• UNICEF and Save the Children - Children’s Rights in Policies and

Codes of Conduct• ILO - Eliminating Child Labour Guides for Employers