What are the

linkages between

child rights and

business ?

Why human rights of children

should matter to business ?

How can companies minimize

risks and maximize opportunities

by implementing the Children’s

Rights and Business Principles

(CRBP) ?

ARE CHILDREN YOUR BUSINESS ? Luncheon session: Sasin Center for Sustainability Thursday, 17 December 2015

WHO IS

A CHILD?

CHILDREN’S

RIGHTS

SURVIVAL

PARTICIPATION PROTECTION

Food Water

Sanitation Medical Care

Discrimination

Abuse Violence

Exploitation

Views

Opinion

Listen to children

Role in society

BUSINESS CAN

IMPACT ON

THESE RIGHTS

DEVELOPMENT

Education Play

Recreation

Cultural

Activities

Standard of Living Nutrition

Health

Life

Why human rights of children should matter to business?

Direct and indirect interaction between business and children

Children are consumers, family members of employees, young workers, community members

Children are future skilled workers and productive citizens of the country

Business is a key stakeholder in children’s rights

Businesses impacts are both positive and negative on children’s rights – workplace, marketplace, community & environment

However, children are still invisible and unheard stakeholders in business

• Trafficking in Persons Report (2015)

• International NGO reports & international buyers response

• Committee on the Rights of the Child Concluding Observations on child rights and business to Thailand

- heavy industries, manufacturing, textiles and export agriculture, with a focus on tourism industry’s impact on children

Growing international pressure

Child-focused CSR in Thailand

• Child labour • Education & Scholarships • Health • Sport, art and music

projects • Outings and excursions • Donations

• Upper middle income country • Strong & influential private sector • Strong government and business bonds • Export oriented economy • High Multinational Enterprise (MNE) presence • Attracts nearly 2.5 million migrant workers from

neighboring countries • GDP-composition by sector Labour force-by occupation Agriculture: 12.1% Agriculture: 38.2% Industry: 43.6% Industry: 13.6% Services: 44.2% (2013 est.) Services: 48.2 % (2011 est.)

Power and role of private sector

How can business promote human rights of children?

THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS (2011) Global benchmark for government and business

to address human rights

State duty to PROTECT

Corporate responsibility to RESPECT

Rights of victims to access an effective REMEDY

• Developed by UNICEF, the UN Global Compact and Save the Children to provide companies with guidance and practical advice

• Involved global consultations with civil

society, children, business, government and more

• Recognize specific standards for

children's rights and business in the Workplace, Marketplace, Community and Environment

• Voluntary, no global sign-on, monitoring and reporting mechanism

• Central ideas of respect and support

Responsibility to RESPECT means avoiding infringement of the human rights of others, including children, and addressing adverse human rights impacts

Commitment to SUPPORT

means voluntary actions that seek to advance human rights, including children’s rights

Business risks Business opportunities

RESPECT and SUPPORT

RESPECT and SUPPORT

Example: Principle 2 – Eliminate Child Labour

Responsibility to Respect: • Do not employ or use children

in workforce, value chain • Verify all workers are above the minimum age • Prevent children from

hazardous work

Commitment to Support: • Help address root causes - Raise awareness of child labour and educational alternatives - Partner with peers, communities, civil society, unions, governments - Mobilize cross-sector advocacy efforts

responsibility to

RESPECT

commitment to

SUPPORT

PRINCIPLE 1 – THE FOUNDATION

Example: “Child-Friendly Business” project

Principles 2, 3, 4 - THE WORKPLACE

2 - CHILD LABOUR 3 - YOUNG WORKERS, PARENTS and CAREGIVERS 4 - PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN

Companies promoting education of migrant children in Chiang Mai

Principle 3:

Young workers

A ‘young worker’ is a child above the legal minimum working age who is involved in

economic activity and under 18 years old. (Thailand Labour Protection Act B.E. 2541,

section 44 -52 on young workers)

Case study: HP and student workers

6 month paid maternity leave @ Dtac

Promoting Breastfeeding @Thai Summit Harness PCL

Principle 3: Family-friendly workplace policies

Date of Presentation © U

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Principle 4 : Child Protection and Safety

The Good Space in construction sites @ Sansiri PLC

5. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

6. MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

Principle 5, 6 - Marketplace

SMS for families, Guidebook on digital parenting @ Dtac

Principle 7,8,9,10: Community & the Environment

7. ENVIRONMENT, LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCE ACQUISITION AND USE

8. SECURITY SERVICES AND PERSONNEL

9. ARMED CONFLICT, NATURAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIEES

10. GOVERNMENT TAXATION AND CORRUPTION FREE PRACTICES, GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Mobile library initiative- Mae Hong Son (Ministry of Education, UNICEF, Tops Supermarket)

Stakeholder engagement tool

Industry-specific resources

A Discussion Paper on Developing Child-Friendly Financial Products and Services

Guideline for ICT Industry on Online Child Protection

Industry-specific resources (2015)

Thank you

For more information visit:

www.unicef.org/csr