This document discusses how businesses can create opportunities for children's participation by respecting their rights. It outlines both the positive and negative impacts businesses can have on children. The Children's Rights and Business Principles (CRBP) provide guidance for businesses to respect and support children's rights. There are various approaches businesses can take to engage and involve children in age-appropriate ways, including through partnerships, understanding different participation models, and applying standards to ensure participation is ethical and meaningful. The document provides examples of how businesses have supported children's participation in areas like safety, marketing/advertising, and community engagement.

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BUSINESS AND CHILDREN’S
PARTICIPATION
Child Participation and Gender Learning Event
3-5 November 2015
Entebbe, Uganda
Susan Mbugua
HOW BUSINESSES CAN CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION

2. 2
Potential IMPACTS of Business
POSITIVE FORCE
 Promote children's
rights
 Support employees as
parents
 Provide training
 Prevent serious
violations
 Act as a collective with
a powerful voice (e.g.
banking industry)
NEGATIVE IMPACTS
 Pollution
 Displacement
 Child labour
 Inadequate wages and
poor working conditions
for parents
 Tax avoidance,
corruption

3. 3
Children’s
perspective
• CHILDREN are
consumers, family
members of employees,
young workers,
community members
• Children represent
FUTURE employees and
company leaders
• They are also affected by
business activities,
operations and
relationships NOW!

4. 4
CRBP guides businesses to respect
and support children’s rights
http://www.ccrcsr.com/content/crbp-elearning-portal-0#
The Children’s Rights &
Business Principles
- Official CRBP Video -

5. 5
The Children’s Rights and Business Principles

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”We are not asking corporations to do
something different from their normal business;
we are asking them to do this normal business
differently.”
UNSG Kofi Annan

7. What is
Children’s
Participation?
ARTICLE 12 OF THE
UNITED NATIONS
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS
OF THE CHILD
1. …the right to express those views
freely in all matters affecting the
child…
2. … the child shall in particular be
provided the opportunity to be heard
in any judicial and administrative
proceedings affecting the child…

8. 8
CRC Four General Principles

9. Why Children’s
Participation?
Listen to Children for the Sake of
Business
- More motivated workforce
- Better manage risks at all levels
- Reduce negative media attention
- Better positioned to improve brand
- Easier to realize sustainability goals
Listen to Children for the Sake of
Children
- Participation in decision-making can raise
children’s confidence, nurture reasoning
and develop respect for and understanding
of others.
- Empowered children are more aware and
informed – therefore better protected
against abuse.
- Participation contributes to a culture of
respect and civic engagement and active
citizenship.

10. How can
Business
Support
Children’s
Participation?
Partnerships:
Always use third-party/civil society,
expert facilitators in engagements
with children.
Understanding:
Consider the different approaches
to Children’s Participation.
Quality and Standards:
Apply the basic requirements
for children’s ethical and
meaningful participation.

11. Approaches to
Children’s
Participation
Consultative Participation
Adult-initiated, adult-led and adult-
managed.
Collaborative Participation
Adult-initiated, but it empower children
to influence and challenge both the
outcome and the process itself.
Child-Led Participation
Wholly led by children, adults may serve
as facilitators but children ultimately
control and direct the process.

12. The Basic
Requirements
for Children’s
Participation
General Comment No. 12 UNCRC
Nine requirements that are essential
in ensuring effective, ethical,
systematic and sustainable children’s
participation.
Business needs to ensure that any
endeavours that are undertaken with
young people are safe, child-friendly
and child-sensitive.

13. Basic Requirements For Children’s Participation
1. Transparent and Informative
2. Voluntary
3. Respectful
4. Relevant
5. Facilitated with Child-Friendly Environments and Working Methods
6. Inclusive
7. Supported by Training for Adults
8. Safe and Sensitive to Risk
9. Accountable

14. Examples

15. Principle 4
Safety / Protection of Children
“All business should
ensure the protection
and safety of children
in all business
activities
and facilities.”

16. IDEAS FOR CREATING SPACE AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION
Safety Training/Workshops
Safety training and safety workshops for young workers are good ways
for business to engage with young people. All matters of safety, from
hazardous work to reducing the possibility of exploitation, could be
addressed in on-site training activities.
Establish a Child Protection Code of Conduct
Business could engage with civil society and young people (and
especially young workers) in order to establish a child protection code
of conduct for its operations. Together, business with civil society and
young people could raise awareness about the importance and utility of
a child protection code of conduct so that other businesses may adopt
their own similar code.
Principle 4
Safety / Protection of Children

17. Principle 6
Marketing / Advertising
“All business should
use marketing and
advertising that
respect and support
children’s rights.”

18. IDEAS FOR CREATING SPACE AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION
Media Literacy
Some businesses have already embarked on a non-profit “media
literacy” initiative that educates young children about advertising.
Business could consider providing educational materials to schools that
help young people think critically about advertising and its impact.
Campaigns for Children’s Rights Awareness
Business might consider devoting space across its media outlets and
within its various marketing campaigns to the issue of children’s rights
awareness. Business has a variety of opportunities to raise the profile
of children’s rights and to engage young people to help achieve the
desired results.
Principle 6
Marketing / Advertising

19. Principle 10
Community / Government Efforts
“All business
should reinforce
community and
government
efforts to protect
and fulfil
children’s
rights.”

20. IDEAS FOR CREATING SPACE AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATION
Children’s Participation in Planning and Implementation
Business should support children’s participation in the planning and
implementation stages of any social investment initiative.
Participation through Art
Art made by young people can articulate social issues for business to
consider. Children’s art might even suggest possible solutions.
Business Hearing Children’s Views
Young people’s voices could and should inform business’ investment
into social programmes for children. Young people could, for example,
be encouraged to attend and share their opinions at municipal chamber
of commerce meetings.
Principle 10
Community / Government Efforts

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Group Discussion

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? 1. How can implementation of
the CRBP help the realization
of Children’s Rights? Do you
have examples to share?
2. How do you see your role,
in relation to the prevention
and remediation of business
negative/damage to children?
3. How can you promote
opportunities for children to
be heard by business?

23. About the
Guide
Serves to inspire businesses and civil
society organizations interested in
respecting and supporting children’s
rights.
Provides helpful suggestions on how
business, working with civil society,
might create space and opportunity
for children’s participation.
Good examples of how business has
already engaged with children and
young people are also included.
You can download the guide at:
resourcecentre.savethechildren.se

24. THANKYOU !
Thank you