You, Your Rights and Business

A Resource for Children and Young People about the Children's Rights and Business Principles

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WELCOME!

A message from Save the Children Sweden’s Secretary General:

We are so happy that you are reading this book!

It is important for everyone to understand that children have rights. Not only at school, at home, in the community, in the workplace, but – everywhere!

It is also important to understand that we all have the responsibility to support and respect children’s rights. This includes governments, parents, teachers, children, family, friends, bosses – everyone!

For many years, different people and groups have been working together to develop a set of ‘guidelines’ or ideas for how business can better support and respect children’s rights.

This book can help you learn more about this work. We hope it will give you ideas you can use in your everyday life and help you to learn:

What are your rights? What is Business? What should business be doing to respect your rights?

We also want to share important information about a project called the:‘Children’s Rights and Business Principles Initiative’

All of these details and more can be found in the pages you are about to read.

We ask you to please share this book with family and friends.

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Talk to them about the things you have learned and the ideas you have.

Consider what actions you and other young people can take to raise awareness and support for children’s rights.

Save the Children Sweden works for:

• a world which respects and values each child • a world which listens to children and learns • a world where all children have hope and opportunity

By learning and taking action together, we believe we are one step closer to creating a better world for children.

Thank you!

Elisabeth Dahlin, Secretary GeneralSave the Children Sweden

What are rights?

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What are Rights?Every child has the same human rights...

Some of your human rights have to do with the basic physical needs to stay alive.

For example: You have the right to food, water, shelter and basic health care.

Some of your human rights have to do with how other people treat you. For example: You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

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Some of your rights have to do with your need to be cared for, to develop and to grow and be part of your communities.

You have the right to an education, to be protected, to express your own ideas and opinions, to information, and to participate in making decisions about issues that affect you.

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You also have the right to not be discriminated against because of who you are or where you come from.1

All of your rights can be found in a document called the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Almost every government in the world agrees with the CRC. When a government agrees with (or ‘ratifies’) the CRC, it becomes a legal duty for that country. This means that they have made promises to protect your rights and take steps to ensure your rights are supported and respected.

Finally, there is a special group (called: the Committee on the Rights of the Child) that reviews progress and makes sure governments are keeping their promises.

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What is Business?

Different words can be used when talking about ‘business’, for example:

• Company• Private sector• Corporate • Commerce • Commercial

Business is...

About buying and selling things (for example: food, computers, clothes, toys, machines, and much more)

Providing ‘services’ (for example: paying people to do something like fixing something that is broken, building a building or cooking and serving food)

About making things (for example: creating the paper for books, the metal needed for buildings, the fabric needed for clothing)

When we talk about ‘business’, we are not talking about companies that are owned by the government (government-owned companies are known as the ‘public sector’). Government owned companies work differently and are not part of this discussion.

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Think about the forms of business in your community.

Please write them down or draw a picture of ‘business and my community’.

In our everyday lives, we see different kinds of business, for example: where people go to work and where we buy things. We also see business in the magazines and newspapers we read, when we watch television and when we see advertisements and posters on the streets. There are also big businesses that affect our lives, for example: credit card companies; computer companies; travel agents; hotels; banks; media and more.

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Sometimes young people work for business

Business and Children

Children and families buy things from business

We understand that business is a part of every child’s life. For example:

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Family members work for business Business can impact the environment where children live and grow

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The things business make are eaten and used by children (for example: food and toys)

It is easy to see that business has an effect on the lives (and rights) of children.

For this reason, different people, groups and organizations have been working together to develop a set of ‘guidelines’ or ideas for how business can better support and respect children’s rights.

These ideas are shared in a document called:

The Children’s Rights and Business Principles

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Can you think of others ways thatbusiness is a part of your life and

community?

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What are 'Children's Rights and business principles'?

First... let’s look at the word ‘Principles’

What are ‘Principles’?

During a consultation with young people in Zambia, the participants defined ‘Principles’ as follows:

• principles are like rules which govern how to behave

• principles are expectations of how behaviour should be

• principles are what acceptable conduct is

The Children’s Rights and Business Principles (the CRBP for short) are like a set of ‘rules’ that every business should follow to ensure children’s rights are respected and supported.

Do you remember at the beginning of this book, when we were looking at ‘children’s rights’ and the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

We mentioned that the Convention is a ‘legal duty’ for governments. And that there is a special ‘committee’ (or group of people) that makes sure governments are keeping their promises.

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The CRBP are different from the Convention on the Rights of the Child. For example, the CRBP have no special committee. The CRBP are also not necessarily a ‘legal duty’ for business. But they are still a very useful tool for business, communities and children. Here’s why...

Many businesses want to support and respect children’s rights – the CRBP can show them how.

People that give money to businesses (consumers, people who buy things and investors) are demanding that business ‘does better’ and does not harm children – the CRBP can guide them.

Governments have a duty to respect children’s rights and therefore need business in their countries to also respect children’s rights – the CRBP can lead them.

Workers (adults and children) are demanding their rights be respected – the CRBP can inform them.

Communities are asking business to be more responsible – the CRBP can inspire them.

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CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND BUSINESS PRINCIPLES

All business should...

Principle 1 Respect and support children’s rights

Principle 2 Help end child labour

Principle 3 Provide decent work for young workers, parents and caregivers

Principle 4 Ensure the protection and safety of children in all business activities and facilities

Principle 5 Ensure products and services are safe

Principle 6 Use marketing and advertising that supports and respects children’s rights

Principle 7 Respect and support children’s rights and the environment

Principle 8 Respect and support children’s rights in security arrangements

Principle 9 Help protect children affected by emergencies

Principle 10 Support community and government efforts to protect and fulfill children’s rights

The official version is just over 40 pages in length and can be downloaded at: www.unglobalcompact.org

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CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND BUSINESS PRINCIPLESSummarized Version for Children and Young People

Principle 1: Respect and support children’s rights

This Principle explains that...

Business should declare (tell everyone, the public, the community, managers, workers, etc.) their promises and commitments to children and explain what actions they will take to respect children’s rights.

Business should have a plan and know what they will do when they find a problem or any situation where children’s rights are not being respected. In other words, they should have ways to ‘fix’ problems and find solutions that protect children.

Business should talk to children and other workers to better understand the issues, problems and solutions.

Business should have safe ways for girls, boys and others to report if something is wrong, if something bad has happened to them or if the rules are not being followed (also known as a ‘grievance or judicial mechanisms’).

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Principle 2: Help end child labour

This Principle explains that...

Business should end child labour: Business should never employ or use children in any form of child labour.

Business should ensure all young workers are protected from harm.

For example: they should prevent harm before it happens and protect children from any work that is beyond their physical, mental and emotional abilities.

Business should work with governments and others to promote education and address the main causes of child labour.

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This Principle also reminds business that children have the following rights:

(As found in the Convention on the Rights of the Child)

• Right to information

• Right to freedom of association (the right to form groups or join others to together promote, express or defend shared ideas, beliefs or interests)

• Right to collective bargaining (creating agreements between employers and employees that defines things like wages, working hours, benefits and more)

• Right to participation

• Right to non discrimination

• Right to privacy

• Right to be protected from all forms of workplace violence – including physical, mental and other humiliating punishment, bullying and sexual abuse

'Child Labour' happens when children are working but they are not old enough to work, according to the law. Child Labour includes work that can harm physical and mental development and work that interferes with education. Child Labour also includes all situations that are dangerous or can harm the child (for example: child trafficking, forced labour, exploitation and more).

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'decent work' includes work that is safe and provides fairs wages/pay to anyone who is at or above the legal age allowed for work. It should include respect for workers' rights and opportunities for personal development and growth. Employees should be free to express concerns and to participate in decisions that affect them

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Principle 3: Provide decent work for young workers, parents and caregivers

This Principle explains that...

Business should provide decent work for young workers and respect the rights of working age children.

Business should ensure girls and boys have access to water, sanitation and hygiene (washroom) facilities, taking into account the different needs of girls and boys.

Business should protect young workers: including their right to be protected from abuse and violence.

Business should consider the number of hours young people work and ensure there is also time for rest and study.

Business should protect children from dangerous work, including: work at dangerous heights, working with dangerous machinery, equipments and tools, lifting heavy items, working with unsafe chemicals and substances and working late at night or alone.

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Principle 3: continued...

Business should also provide:

• Young workers with health information and services.

• Young workers with quality education and employment training.

• Young workers with a living wage (a salary that you can ‘live’ on).

• Women and men with support in their roles as parents and caregivers.

• Parents and caregivers with good wages and working conditions (beyond the legal requirements).

• Flexible working hours for parents and caregivers.

• Support to pregnant and breastfeeding women.

• Parental leave (time for parents to spend with their children).

• Support to workers who work far away from home and help with distance parenting.

• Parents and caregivers with access to good quality childcare, health care and education for their children.

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Principle 4: Ensure the protection and safety of children in all business activities and facilities

This Principle explains that...

Business should address anything that poses a risk to the safety and protection of children’s rights.

For example: they should ensure company facilities are not used to abuse, exploit or harm children and that young workers are protected from dangerous work.

Business should develop a set of rules (a ‘child protection code of conduct’) to protect children.

Business should ensure everyone is aware of the child protection code of conduct (the rules) and have the necessary training to follow it.

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Principle 5: Ensure products and services are safe

This Principle explains that...

Business should ensure all products and services that will be used by children are safe and do not cause harm to children (this includes things that children will eat and drink).

Business should prevent their products and services from being used to abuse, exploit or harm children in any way (for example: that hotels are not used as places to abuse children). They should also control access to products and services not suitable to children or that could cause harm (for example: alcohol and tobacco).

If a business has products or services that are essential to children’s survival and development (for example: medicines and water) the business should help find ways

to ensure these products and services are available to children.

Business should look for ways and opportunities that their products and services can support children’s rights (for example: that internet companies work to help find and end child abuse on the internet).

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'Products and services' are the things that businesses sell and the 'service' some businesses provide, for example: food, toys, clothing, tools, hotel rooms, travel related services, credit cards, internet access and more.

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Principle 6: Use marketing and advertising that supports and respects children’s rights

This Principle explains that...

Business should ensure marketing does not have a bad (negative) impact on children (for example: it should not support discrimination in anyway).

Business should ensure labels and information on products are clear and easy to understand.

Business should use its marketing to promote and raise aware-ness about children’s rights.

Business should support messages that help children feel good about themselves, teaches them how be healthy and supports ways to end and prevent violence.

'Marketing and advertising' refers to the ways a business will try to attract the attention of the public. Marketing is used to try and sell products. TV commercials are one form of marketing.

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Principle 7: Respect and support children’s rights and the environment

This Principle explains that...

Business should respect children’s rights and the environment:

For example: Business activities should not damage the environment or reduce access to needed resources (such as water).

Business should respect children’s rights when using land for business purposes:

For example: Business should ensure communities are not moved due to business activity (also known as ‘land acquisition’). If there is no other option, business should consult with communities (including children) and ensure all plans take into account children’s rights, especially their rights to education, protection, health, food, good living standards and participation.

Business should protect the environment for future generations:

For example: Business should take actions to reduce greenhouse gases and look for ways to reduce risks to the environment, children and communities.

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Principle 8: Respect and support children’s rights in security arrangements

This Principle explains that...

Business should respect children’s rights in security arrangements:

For example: Business should understand how security arrangements may impact children’s rights (good and bad) and have plans to prevent or take action to address any possible problems.

Business should never use children in security arrangements.

'security arrangements' include actions taken to protect business activity by using guards and other related security/protection services.

For example: a business may hire security people to protect a mining site or a power plant.

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Principle 9: Help protect children affected by emergencies

This Principle explains that...

Business should take the necessary steps to prevent, act and respond to emergencies and protect children’s rights.

Business should help children affected by emergencies by raising awareness about the risks of violence, abuse and exploitation.

When needed and asked, business should help aid agencies and authorities (such as police) during an emergency situation.

Business should support peace and development.

Emergencies are situations where lives, development and physical and mental well-being are at risk or threatened. For example: natural disasters (such as earthquakes), famine and armed conflict.

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Principle 10: Support community and government efforts to protect and fulfill children’s rights

This Principle explains that...

Business should support government efforts to protect and fulfill children’s rights:

For example: By respecting laws and paying taxes, business helps create government funding that is needed to run programs and fund services that protect and fulfill children’s rights.

Business should work with government, organizations and children to create programs or support existing programs that help girls and boys.

Need More Information?

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Need more information?

Official version of the Children’s Rights and Business Principles

You can find the full text and official version of the Principles at: www.unglobalcompact.org

Children’s Consultations

Throughout 2010-2011 we supported consultations with children and young people. Over 400 young people reviewed a set of draft Principles and also discussed the different ways that business impacts their lives and communities. Reports from these consultations can be found at: http://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/human_rights/CRBP/How_Business_Affects_Us.pdf

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

To learn more about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and your rights, you can see the resource (mentioned in the next section) What is… the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child or you can read the Convention in 58 different languages by visiting: http://www.unicef.org/magic/briefing/uncorc.html. The site includes links to the official text and also reader friendly versions.

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What is...

There is a series of books called the ‘What is...” leaflets. These 10 leaflets have been developed for children and young people and help to explain many different things about the United Nations. For example:

What is... the United Nations?

What is... the UN General Assembly?

What is... the Security Council?

What is... the Human Rights Council?

What is... a Convention and a Treaty?

What is... Children’s Participation?

What is... a Special Representative?

What is... an Omnibus Resolution?

What is... a Complaints Procedure for the CRC?

What is... the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

Please visit the website: http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/content/library to access all of the What is… leaflets. Once you are at the site, type in ‘What is…’ into the search field and you will receive a full listing of all the leaflets.

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Test Your KnowledgeMultiple Choices

See if you can find the correct answer (a, b, c or d) for each question. 1. Our definition for ‘Business’ does not include?a) companiesb) public sector (government owned business)c) the private sectord) corporations

2. Children’s Rights can be found:a) In the UN Convention on the Rights of the Childb) Inside a cookbookc) Inside a restaurant menud) Inside the manual that comes with a new television

3. Typical Business activities include:a) Buying and selling thingsb) Making thingsc) Providing servicesd) All of the above

4. Which of the following is not included in the Children’s Rights and Business Principles:a) Business should help protect the environmentb) Business should hire more childrenc) Business should help end child labourd) Business should help during emergencies

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True or False

Please answer the following statements with, true or false.

1. The Children’s Rights and Business Principles include 14 key Principles.

2. ‘Principles’ are expectations of how behaviour should be and what acceptable conduct is.

3. The Children’s Rights and Business Principles state that business should buy every girl and boy a new computer.

4. The Children’s Rights and Business Principles state that every business should respect and support children’s rights.

5. Every child has the same human rights.

6. Business should stop paying government taxes and instead use the money to hire more young people as employees.

7. Business should work together with governments to respect and support children’s rights.

8. Business needs only to consider some of the rights found in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

9. The Children’s Rights and Business Principles have been created in partner ship with UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, business, children and young people and others.

10. Business should take the necessary steps to prevent, act and respond to emergencies and protect children’s rights

true or false

true or false

true or false

true or false

true or false

true or false

true or false

true or false

true or false

true or false

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Appendix1 Adapted from: J. Young, L. Karlsson, Government Commitments to Combat Sexual Exploitation of Children- A Report for Adolescent (UNICEF, 2009).

Multiple Choice Answers: 1. (b); 2. (a); 3 (d); 4. (b).

True or False Answers: 1. False; 2. True; 3. False; 4. True; 5. True; 6. False; 7. True; 8. False; 9. True; 10. True

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The content of this publication is drawn from the Children’s Rights and Business Principles,

by UN Global Compact, Save the Children and UNICEF, 2012.

The official version of the Children’s Rights and Business Principles can be found at:

http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se

©2013 Save the Children

ISBN 978-91-7321-443-8

Any part of this publication may be freely reproduced with the appropriate acknowledgement.

Project management: Monica LindvallAuthor: Alana KapellCreative Director: Jason Robinson, Planetyou Illustrator: Qin Leng

Save the Children Sweden107 88 Stockholm, Swedenwww.rb.seE-mail: info@rb.seWeb: http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se

We are the world’s leading independent organisation for children.

Our Vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.

Our Mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting improvements to their lives.