UNICEF calls on PHL business sector to support children’s rights

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday called on the Philippine business community to uphold children's rights through 10 business principles that may protect children against any form of exploitation.

In partnership with the Makati Business Club (MBC), the UNICEF launched the Children's Rights and Business Principles (CBRP) in Makati City.

According to the UN body, CBRP is the first comprehensive set of principles to guide the private sector companies on "the full range of actions they can take in the workplace, marketplace, and community to respect and support children's rights.

"While the business and human rights agenda has evolved significantly in recent years, a child rights perspective has not yet been sufficiently addressed," the UNICEF said.

According to the CBRP, businesses should observe the following:

• Meet their responsibility to respect children's rights and commit to supporting human rights of children;
• Contribute to the elimination of child labor, including in all business activities and business relationships;
• Provide decent work for young workers, parents and caregivers;
• Ensure the protection and safety of children in all business activities and facilities;
• Ensure that products and services are safe, and seek to support children's rights through them;
• Use marketing and advertising that respect and support children's rights;
• Respect and support children's rights in relation to the environment and to land acquisition and use;
• Respect and support children's rights in security arrangements;
• Help protect children affected by emergencies; and
• Reinforce community and government efforts to protect and fulfill children's rights.

"Because children under the age of 18 account for almost a third of the world's population, it is inevitable that businesses, whether small or large, will have an effect on the lives of children, both directly and indirectly," UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander said.

"Children are affected by businesses in a variety of ways as consumers and members of employees' families, as future employees themselves and as eventual business leaders. They also live in communities and share the environment in which businesses operate," Sylwander said.

MBC executive director Peter Perfecto said the business group will help UNICEF organize workshops and training for companies and key managers to make the CBRP happen.

"We will also help UNICEF meet CEOs so that we can promote more tone from the top for children's rights," Perfecto said. — BM, GMA News