New York, Jun 24 2010 4:10PM
The United Nations Children's Fund (<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_54050.html">UNICEF) and partners called today on business leaders to create a set of universal principles to ensure that their companies' actions have a positive impact on youth.
"Protecting children's rights is a global responsibility that requires global commitment from us all, in every sector," Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, said at the opening of the <"http://www.unglobalcompact.org/">UN Global Compact Leaders Summit, a major meeting of business leaders held in New York.
"This new partnership will help to establish clear principles for businesses to participate in the global effort to help all children, and especially those most in need," he said of the initiative, which is spearheaded by UNICEF, the Global Compact and Save the Children.
The Children's Principles of Business – which would be launched in 2011 – are to be based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child which detail basic human rights of children, such as protection from abuse and exploitation.
In addition to serving as a reference point for businesses, the Principles would be incorporated into the Global Compact documentation which asks businesses to respect and support human rights.
Launched in 2000, the Global Compact is a UN initiative that seeks to foster socially responsible business practices. It has become the world's largest and most ambitious initiative of its kind with at least 8,000 participants.
Speaking today to more than 1,200 corporate chief executives, government ministers, heads of civil society and other participants at the Summit, UN representatives called on business leaders to participate in the consultation project and to help shape the Principles.
The first multi-stakeholder consolation on the Principles is scheduled for tomorrow.
"Business has an enormous potential to impact children's lives," said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the Global Compact.
"While much progress has been made in managing and mitigating impacts in areas such as child labour, workplace policies, childcare or responsible marketing, the Principles seek to address the broader responsibilities and commitments of business towards children as one of their constituencies," he stated.
Jun 24 2010 4:10PM
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