Children's Rights

Children are one-third of the world’s population, and, as consumers and workers, significantly contribute to the world economy. Yet they are also “among the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society and can be disproportionately and permanently impacted by business activities, operations, and relationships.”

To date, recognition of the responsibility of business towards children has often focused on preventing or eliminating child labor. However, adverse impacts of business on children’s rights also include marketing (e.g., unethical marketing practices of unhealthy food and beverages to children), distribution of products (e.g., unsafe products that have not been properly tested), in the community (e.g., when security personnel does not consider children’s rights when protecting company assets), or through environmental impacts (e.g., affecting the rights to health, food and water of local communities, disproportionately impacting children).