Business Case
An overview of the business case for Children’s Rights and Business Principles and how the Global Compact is supporting business efforts.
Learning
Inspire participants’ organizational learning, and support companies to develop and implement corporate sustainability strategies, operations and management practices in line with the Global Compact Ten Principles. Read more about Learning.
Learning Activities
- Organize outreach events/webinars for participants, introducing the Children’s Rights and Business Principles (CRBPs) and explaining the important role companies can play in respecting and supporting children’s rights.
- Collect and showcase good practices on CRBP at national, regional and global events.
- In collaboration with local offices of Save the Children and UNICEF, host national launch of the CRBPs.
- Translate materials related to the CRBPs into local languages and disseminate them within the network. CRBPs are currently available in all UN languages: click here to access.
- Convene workshops and offer support to companies on the implementation of the CRBPs including how to communicate efforts in the annual Communication on Progress.
Learning Benefits
- Increase understanding of companies on the role of business in respecting and supporting children’s rights.
- Increased number of local companies reporting on efforts to respect and support children’s rights.
- Increased visibility of the Local Network among companies and stakeholders with an interest in children’s issues.
Learning Local Examples
- Global Compact Network France and UNICEF France partnered to organize a launch event for the Children’s Rights and Business Principles. After the launch, companies in the CAC 40 – the benchmark index for funds investing in the French stock market – integrated the Principles into their business operations. UNICEF France partnered with a leading European environmental, social, governance (ESG) rating agency to conduct a study on how these principles were implemented, entitled “Integration of Children’s Rights and Business Principles by French Multinational Companies.” The findings suggest that reporting and disclosure on children’s rights-related issues is, with a few exceptions, still underdeveloped compared to other corporate sustainability issues and focus mainly on community investment and child labour.
Policy Dialogue
Aim to bring businesses and other stakeholders together to exchange best practices, identify new and emerging issues; promote multi-stakeholder trust and interaction; and support advocacy to policymakers. Read more about Policy Dialogue.
Policy Dialogue Activities
- Organize meetings with local offices of UNICEF and Save the Children where companies (both local and MNC subsidiaries) can share lessons learned and discuss challenges and opportunities related to implementing the CRBPs.
- Convene meetings by bringing governments, key stakeholders (including NGOs, communities and children), and companies together to discuss public policy issues related to the CRBPs.
- Convene in-person meetings with participants to present and discuss implementation of the CRBPs.
- Engage with government and other key stakeholders (including NGOs, communities and children) through discussions, events and consultations.
Policy Dialogue Benefits
- Evidence of Local Network convening power on issues related to businesses and children’s rights.
- Increased visibility of Local Network among key stakeholders and companies on business and children’s rights issues.
- Increased access of Local Network to existing initiatives on children’s rights and businesses.
Policy Dialogue Local Examples
- Global Compact Network Indonesia, UNICEF and Save the Children teamed up with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection and other national partners to call on the business community to make children’s rights a priority in their corporate sustainability agenda. The Children’s Rights and Business Principles launched at a national ceremony and panel discussion in Jakarta, brought together representatives of national and international companies as well as civil society organizations to discuss the ways in which companies can make positive impacts on the lives of children.
Collective Action & Partnerships
hrough partnerships, private and public actors can combine their resources, skills and expertise to enhance results and impact. With collective action multiple companies join forces to engage in identifying, developing and implementing innovative solutions to systematic challenges. Read more about Collective Action.
Collective Action Activities
- Launch a campaign calling on business participants to commit to the CRBPs.
- Together with UNICEF and Save the Children, convene events where companies can learn about opportunities to partner with NGOs, governments, UN and other stakeholders to advance the CRBPs.
Collective Action Benefits
- Increased awareness among companies of specific actions and partnerships they can take together with other stakeholders to support children’s rights.
- Increased opportunities for collaboration between Local Networks and key stakeholders, government ministries, and potential donors.
Collective Action Local Examples
- Global Compact Network Croatia, UNICEF Croatia and the Croatian Employers’ Association collaborated to launch the first manual for the country to support companies in integrating children’s rights in business and management operations. The guide: “Children are our Business 2.0,” provides case studies of companies around the world that have implemented the Children’s Rights and Business Principles into their strategic operations. Company representatives attended a workshop to discuss the need to involve state institutions, formed a leadership initiative and conducted company training sessions.
