Issue 7: Quarterly Bulletin on Business & Children

December 2013

Welcome to the seventh issue of the Quarterly Bulletin on Business & Children, produced by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. The purpose of this e-bulletin is to help keep everyone working in this field informed about recent key developments and forthcoming initiatives. Please encourage others to consider signing up. And if you would like to contribute to future issues, let us know. This issue and past bulletins are available on the Centre’s Business & Children Portal.

To sign up or to contribute an entry, contact: Annabel Short short (at) business-humanrights.org (Programme Director, based in New York) with a cc to Eniko Horvath (Researcher, based in London) horvath (at) business-humanrights.org.

CONTENTS

1. Summary ...... 1 2. Announcements: Forthcoming activities and recent projects ...... 3 English ...... 3 Español ...... 8 Français ...... 11 3. Other news and developments ...... 13 Global ...... 13 Africa ...... 13 Americas ...... 14 Asia & Pacific ...... 14 Europe & Central Asia ...... 15 Middle East & North Africa ...... 15

1. Summary

Welcome to the 7th Quarterly Bulletin on Business & Children. As the bulletin highlights, children in all parts of the world remain vulnerable to exploitation by business. This includes Syrian children who have fled the conflict to neighbouring countries. As a recent UN report highlighted: “In both Jordan and Lebanon, [Syrian] children as young as seven years old are working long hours for little pay, sometimes in dangerous or exploitative conditions”. Among others, children in Macau are also vulnerable to exploitation as they are trafficked for the sex tourism industry, which has reportedly been growing alongside the city’s many casinos.

Serious efforts to reduce corporate abuses of children’s rights are underway, although currently they are too few and far between. At the second Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva this December, participants at a panel on Business Respect for the Rights of Children emphasised the need for companies to move beyond a “do no harm” approach and to take into 2 account issues such as child consultation, and the right to remedy. On child consultation, this bulletin refers to the Bank Information Center’s consultations with over 100 children and adolescents in six countries regarding the World Bank’s review of its social and environmental standards. It also features travel firm Kuoni’s consultations with children as part of its human rights impact assessment in India, to identify possible risks and benefits of the tourism industry there. The children were asked, for example, how they saw business affecting their daily lives and those of the family and community; whether they encountered tourists in their daily lives; and any fears they may have for their safety. Furthermore, UNICEF & Guardian Sustainable Business’s week on Giving Children a Voice in Business featured a number of materials dedicated to companies engaging children as stakeholders.

On access to remedy, the bulletin refers to two lawsuits. In September this year, a group of 707 Chileans filed a lawsuit in Sweden against Boliden mining firm alleging it allowed dumping toxic waste in Arica, Chile in the 1980s that led to serious health problems – including lead poisoning which has a particularly harmful effect on children. The company says it regrets what happened, while pointing to legal proceedings in Chile that established that PROMEL, the firm it contracted to process the waste, and the Chilean government, are responsible for the harm suffered. In Pennsylvania, USA, the firms that owned and operated two juvenile detention centres and that were involved in the “kids for cash” scandal (by which judges accepted kickbacks for sentencing children and adolescents to those centres) settled a civil lawsuit for $2.5 million.

There is growing awareness of the situation of children of migrant workers, and companies’ responsibilities in that regard. The Center for Child-Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility in China (CCR CSR) surveyed over 1500 parents, left-behind children and local businesses in China. Over 80% of the migrant workers with children left in their home towns reported “feeling inadequate in their role as parents”, CCR CSR reports. Seventy percent of respondents felt strong guilt and anxiety as a results of the separation. A team from Harvard University’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights published a research paper on the situation of migrant workers’ families living and working at a construction site outside Delhi in India – who are among the country’s 40 million migrant workers in that industry. It concludes: “In light of the complex conditions facing this hyper- mobile population, findings suggest policymakers, corporations, and civil society must work to develop initiatives to implement and enforce the rights of migrant workers and their children to identity, family, health, safety, development, education and economic security”. Those are rights that can be at stake, of course, in the interaction of business with children across many sectors and all parts of the world.

The bulletin also flags important events on the horizon. Among them are:

UNICEF, UN Global Compact and Save the Children: The next annual global Children’s Rights and Business Principles stock-taking event will take place in Nairobi in April/May 2014.

Global Child Forum: Global Forum in Stockholm on April 11, 2014; first Satellite Forum in the Middle East in November 2014.

International Institute for the Rights of the Child: "New Technologies and children’s rights: the Right to information vs. Right to Complete”, 14-17 October 2014.

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2. Announcements: Forthcoming activities and recent projects

Note: Entries in this section are provided by the named organizations.

English i. Committee on the Rights of the Child

In the context of the second Annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, a multi-stakeholder panel on Business Respect for the Rights of Children was held on 4 December in Palais des Nations, Geneva. It was chaired by Marta Maurás, Senior UNICEF Consultant and included Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Ambassador Carmelo Angulo from Spain, and Porntat Amatavivadhana, Director of Sansiri, a Thai real estate developing company. The panelists engaged in a fruitful discussion with representatives from different States, civil society organizations and the business sector. Against the backdrop of CRC General Comment No. 16 on State obligations regarding the impact of the business sector on children’s rights, the panel and the audience emphasised that business profit and competitiveness may never constitute an obstacle to effective human rights implementation. They also highlighted the necessity to move beyond the “do no harm-approach” in respect of impacting on rights and raised the issues of, inter alia, child consultation, child rights due diligence, the right to reparation and the role of the media. Particular emphasis was placed on States' important role in supporting and monitoring corporate obligations in terms of child rights. This role includes, but is not limited to, ensuring non-discriminatory business policies, as well as making sure that the best interests of the child is a primary consideration in every circumstance.

→ Contributed by Céline Maria Georgi, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, crc (at) ohchr.org ii. UN Global Compact

UNICEF, UN Global Compact and Save the Children have announced that the next annual global Children’s Rights and Business Principles stock-taking event will take place in Nairobi in April/May 2014.

In less than two years since their release, the Principles have dramatically raised awareness of children and youth as critical stakeholders of business. This event will reflect on progress and action taken by business to implement the Principles and thus advancing efforts to respect and support children’s rights in the workplace, marketplace, environment and community; and document evolving good practice both globally and regionally. There will be a special focus on Africa as participants explore key child rights challenges and opportunities for business operating in the region. Featuring an engaged group of leading international and regional stakeholders from business, government, academia and civil society, the event will seek to strengthen local, regional and global solutions for children and business.

Registration and agenda details coming soon. Participation will be by invitation only.

→ Contributed by Anita Househam, Policy and Legal Advisor, UN Global Compact, househam (at) un.org iii. UNICEF

Implementation tools for companies On the 18th and 19th of September in New York, a group of 150 sustainability leaders, CEOs, civil society actors, UNICEF representatives and experts delved into a number of topics ranging from UNICEF’s tools for companies on integrating child rights into company policies and practices, concrete steps that companies can take to respect and support children’s rights, child labour, young workers and the post-2015 agenda. Speakers included Bob Collymore (CEO Safaricom), Bob 4

Corcoran (Vice President General Electric), Charlotte Ersbol (Corporate Vice President Novo Nordisk), Her Majesty the Queen of Belgium, President Mary Robinson, Srettha Thavisin (CEO Sansiri), Anna Zanghi (Vice President Mastercard), Yoka Brandt (UNICEF DED) and many others.

Renowned social innovation firm Frog Design led participants through 14 challenge sessions to develop new approaches and solutions to child rights and business dilemmas. The event closed with a Davos-style discussion facilitated by leading CSR and sustainability expert Jo Confino (Chairman, Guardian Sustainable Business). You can watch highlights from the discussion here: http://www.unicef.org/csr/433.htm.

For more information please contact Ida Hyllested in the CSR Unit, ihyllested (at) unicef.org

Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection The draft Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection have been prepared in the context of the International Telecommunication Union’s Child Online Protection (ITU COP) initiative and apply to the safety of children when using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). They aim to provide advice on how industry can work to help ensure children’s safety when using the internet or any of the many associated technologies or devices which can connect to it or use it, including mobile phones and games consoles. The draft guidelines have been developed through an initial consultation of the ITU COP members and are now open to a broader consultation until 20 December 2013.

For further information, please contact the UNICEF CSR unit on csr (at) unicef.org (Eija Hietavuo and Amaya Gorostiaga) or the ITU COP on cop (at) itu.int (Carla Licciardello).

Giving Children a Voice in Business Building on what it means for businesses to respect and support children’s rights, the Guardian Sustainable Business in collaboration with UNICEF dedicated an entire week (25th-29th November) to the following theme: Giving Children a Voice in Business. The topic has been chosen in order to generate ideas and inputs towards the development of a tool for business on engaging children and young people as stakeholders in 2014.

Through a mix of editorial and multimedia content including articles, visuals, an on-line live discussion and entries from a youth writing contest organized with Voices of Youth, viewers can consider the opportunities and challenges businesses may face when engaging with children as stakeholders, and how UNICEF and companies work together on the broader questions around children’s right to participation.

Link to the Site: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/series/giving-children-a-voice-in-business

→ Contributed by Ida Margarita Hyllested, Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist, UNICEF, ihyllested (at) unicef.org iv. Child Labour Platform

The Child Labour Platform (CLP) is now accepting expressions of interest from businesses in all sectors aiming to tackle child labour in supply chains.

The CLP aims to develop practical solutions for members to address and reduce the incidence of child labour in their supply chains. It fosters frank exchange between businesses to learn from others’ approaches. It underpins this exchange with technical expertise from the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour.

Through their membership, businesses will also gain from sector-specific approaches to reducing child labour; the results of on-going research in business and child labour; and links with governments, local and global initiatives to ensure sustainability. 5

The CLP is an official work-stream of the UN Global Compact Human Rights and Labour Working Group and has been incorporated by the working group’s co-chairs, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represent employers’ associations and workers’ organisations, respectively, in more than 150 countries around the world.

For more information on the Child Labour Platform, please click here or contact Benjamin Smith at the CLP Secretariat at smithb (at) ilo.org.

→ Contributed by Adam Adrien-Kirby, ILO-IPEC, adrien-kirby (at) iloguest.org v. Global Child Forum (formerly World Child & Youth Forum)

World Child & Youth Forum has changed its name to Global Child Forum. The new name better reflects the aim and scope. Global Child Forum is a knowledge-based organisation, delivering thought leadership and best practice to help advance children’s rights. We provide a unique meeting and learning place for leaders from businesses, governments, civil society and academia who are committed to create a more sustainable world with a special focus on children's rights.

New team members join Global Child Forum: Inger Ashing, as Executive Director, and Dr Magdalena Kettis, as Research Director. Sofia Hagman, is the Business Development Manager, and joins from Plan International where she has been Acting Communication Director. Previously she has spent several years as CSR manager at KPA Pension fund, Trygg-Hansa and brings extensive expertise about sustainability in an international context. Ebba Helgesson is our Project Assistant and will focus on the upcoming global forum in April 2014.

Global Child Forum is planning its activities for 2014 and beyond. Key events include the Global Forum in Stockholm on April 11, 2014 and the first Satellite Forum in the Middle East in November 2014. Global Child Forum starts two new major research programmes on children's rights and business, with external partners.

Our objective is to advance action within industry, trade, commerce and the financial sector; we will also emphasise selected issues such as digitalisation and learning & earning as well as support new and transformative multi-stakeholder partnerships.

→ Contributed by Elin Wallberg, World Child & Youth Forum, elin (at) wallberg.wcyf.se vi. Global March Against Child Labour

In the wake of widespread child labour and human rights abuse in the lower levels of global supply chains of some prominent apparel brands in 2007-08, Global March Against Child Labour convened a Multi-stakeholder Garment Steer Group on Child Labour comprising brands, garment manufacturers, trade unions and NGOs to collectively devise sustainable strategies for dealing with the issue of child labour in garment supply chains spanning through the informal sector of the economy in India. This intervention was termed as “Not Made by Children”. However due to limited cooperation from the industry members of the steer group in engaging with civil society in the lower tiers of garment supply chains, not much progress could be made.

Between March 2011 and September 2013, the interventions in India were boosted through a grant by UKAid from the DFID’s Responsible and Accountable Garment Sector Challenge Fund. The purpose of the intervention was to strengthen efforts against child labour and trafficking by improving labour inspection and monitoring in garment supply chains, providing remediation of victims and promoting decent work for adults. To learn more about the achievements of this intervention and viewing a toolkit of lessons learnt and good practices evolved please click here.

→ Contributed by Rohit Sharma, Global March Against Child Labour, info (at) globalmarch.org 6

vii. Bank Information Center

In response to the ongoing review of the World Bank Safeguard policies, the environmental and social standards that apply to the World Bank’s investment lending, the Bank Information Center carried out six children’s consultations on World Bank Safeguards. The consultations took place in six countries where the World Bank is active and included over 100 children and adolescents. Following an educational workshop, participants made recommendations to the World Bank for how safeguards could be improved to better protect the rights of children.

Following these consultations, eight children from four countries traveled to DC to share their recommendations with decision makers from the World Bank and US Government. They were joined by Maria Herczog, member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Marta Mauras Perez, former member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, both sponsored by the International Commission of Jurists. These experts explained how the Committee’s General Comment 16 reiterated States’ obligations to protect children’s rights as members of the World Bank. Further engagement around the need for the World Bank to incorporate a focus on children’s rights in the revised safeguards is planned.

→ Contributed by Elana Berger, Child Rights Program Associate, Bank Information Center, eberger (at) bicusa.org viii. CCR CSR - Center for Child Rights

New report on migrant parents; Leaving children behind affects parents’ role as employees Over 80% of migrant workers with left-behind children reported feeling inadequate in their role as parents which also affects their role as employees. Center for Child-Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility (CCR CSR) in cooperation with the NGO Facilitator and support from the CSR Centre of the Embassy of Sweden conducted a research study during the summer of 2013 on the impact of migration and strained family relationships on the migrant worker parents. Major discrepancy was shown between the migrant workers’ understanding of their responsibilities as parents and their actual ability to take on these responsibilities. Many of the respondents said they lacked means to keep their children with them, including financial pressure, lack of time to attend to children, and lack of access to schooling. 70% of the respondents experienced strong guilt and anxiety as a result of separation, and the breakdown in communication and intimacy with children. The study included in-depth interviews and a survey among over 1500 parents, left-behind children and local business actors in China. A photo-voice exhibition where migrant workers use visual storytelling to showcase the reality of family separation will be launched together with the report in 2014, on 9 January in Beijing and 13 January in Shanghai. By the time of the launch, the report will be available to download on the CCR CSR website.

To receive an invitation or more information about the study please contact Josefin Bennet Fredriksson at CCR CSR: josefin.bennet-fredriksson (at) ccrcsr.com

→ Contributed by Josefin Bennet Fredriksson, Business Development Manager, CCR CSR - Center for Child Rights, josefin.bennet-fredriksson (at) ccrcsr.com ix. Children and Business Network in Nigeria

Following the successful launch of the Children and Business Network in Nigeria in May 2013, a UN Children’s Rights and Business Principles (CRBP) grassroots initiative, founder Ms Toyin Olakanpo re-iterated that the first step each company must take in implementing the CRBP is to make a policy commitment. This involves a statement or policy commitment that sets out the responsibility to respect rights, including children’s rights, as described in the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and also the company’s commitment to support children’s rights as outlined in the CRBP.

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Helping companies in Nigeria understand their responsibilities in this regard is the main focus of the workshop being held in Lagos, Nigeria on 6 January 2014 as part of the regular seminars hosted by the Children and Business Network (CBNG). The free workshop is initially available to the key sponsors of the CBNG’s 1st Annual CEO & Business Roundtable on Children’s Rights that took place on 31 May 2013 in Lagos; namely, Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria (a subsidiary of the Sinopec Group); Nestle Foods Nigeria; Promasidor Nigeria; Diamond Bank plc; UBA Bank plc; the Polo Luxury Group and First Bank of Nigeria. Representatives from the Nigerian Human Rights Commission who attended CBNG’s maiden event will also be in attendance.

→ Contributed by Toyin Olakanpo, Children and Business Network in Nigeria, tolakanpo (at) tadaia.org x. Harvard FXB Center for Health & Human Rights

The SAFE Model is a rights-based framework that examines the interrelatedness of children’s security across four key domains: Safety and protection, access to health care and basic physiological needs, family and community relationships, and education and economic security.

The SAFE Model was developed at the Research Program on Children and Global Adversity at Harvard’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights. The model was used to inform the SAFE toolkit. It consists of a battery of different quantitative and qualitative assessment strategies to monitor and evaluate the effects of development and interventions on children’s security. The aim is to inform holistic responses to child protection threats and provide an evidence base to inform targeted improvements in policies related to systems of care and protection for vulnerable children and families.

Between 2010 and 2013, Harvard researchers worked closely with local partners in India to assess the impact of infrastructure development projects in contexts such as a railway station in Jaipur and a construction project near Delhi. A link to a recently published paper on their work in India can be found here (“A qualitative case study of child protection issues in the Indian construction industry: investigating the security, health, and interrelated rights of migrant families”). Additional information on the SAFE project can also be found here.

To find out more about these projects please contact Theresa S. Betancourt, François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard School of Public Health, Theresa_Betancourt (at) harvard.edu

→ Contributed by François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard School of Public Health xi. International Institute for the Rights of the Child (IDE)

The annual International Seminar of the International Institute for the Rights of the Child (IDE) took place in Sion (Switzerland) on 15 - 18 October on the issue of sex tourism involving children. About a hundred of participants focused in an interdisciplinary way on the factors pushing criminals (ill people or unaware/occasional perpetrators) and child victims (their possible consent to these practices being legally irrelevant) to join in this form of exploitation. The seminar provided a view into different realities (Brazil, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Madagascar and Morocco). Essentially, it is a matter of wealth alongside poverty, an explosive mixture, and the adverse effects are even more difficult to counteract or quantify because they occur mostly in the informal sector. The tourist industry yet has a role to play (for example, by implementing simple reporting mechanisms, encouraging alternative income generating projects, contributing to the victims and research). It shares its responsibility with States (which have to fight against impunity and protect the victims) and civil society. Detailed content of all conferences will be available soon. Save the date for the next seminar: "New Technologies and children’s rights: the Right to information vs. Right to Complete" (14-17 October 2014).

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→ Contribution by Evelyne Monnay, International Institute for the Rights of the Child (IDE), evelyne.monnay (at) childsrights.org xii. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

The Quarterly Bulletin on Business & Children is keen to feature materials in English as well as other languages – please feel free to encourage your contacts around the world working on advancing business respect for children’s rights to share their work with a global audience through the bulletin.

The Resource Centre would like to thank those who have provided input on their experience with the Business & Children Portal as part of our website redesign. We continue to welcome suggestions both in terms of materials and usability. Please feel free to get in touch with any comments. Our new website will be launched in Spring 2014.

Finally, our recent regional briefings on Latin America and on the Middle East and North Africa both include sections on the issue of child labour in those countries, and steps being taken to address it.

→ Contributed by Eniko Horvath, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, horvath (at) business-humanrights.org

Español xiii. Comité de los Derechos del Niño

En el marco del segundo Foro anual de las Naciones Unidas sobre Empresas y los Derechos Humanos, un panel sobre el Respeto de los derechos de los niños en el sector empresarial se celebró el 4 de diciembre de 2013 en el Palais des Nations en Ginebra. La sesión fue presidida por Marta Maurás, consultora internacional de UNICEF y contó con la participación de Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Vice- Presidente del Comité de los Derechos del Niño (CRC), Carmelo Angulo, Embajador de España y Porntat Amatavivadhana, Director de Sansiri, una empresa inmobiliaria tailandesa. Los panelistas participaron en un provechoso debate con representantes de diferentes Estados, de organizaciones de la sociedad civil y del sector empresarial. En el contexto de la Observación general Nº 16 del CRC sobre las obligaciones del Estado en relación con el impacto del sector empresarial en los derechos del niño, el panel y la audiencia enfatizaron que el beneficio empresarial y la competitividad no pueden constituir un obstáculo para la aplicación efectiva de los derechos humanos. También destacaron la necesidad de ir más allá del "enfoque de no hacer daño" en materia de impacto sobre los derechos y entre otras cosas plantearon la necesidad de consultar a los niños y las niñas, la diligencia debida en lo que respecta a los derechos del niño, el derecho a la reparación y el papel de los medios de comunicación. Se hizo especial hincapié en el importante papel que juegan los Estados en el apoyo y el seguimiento de las obligaciones empresariales en materia de derechos del niño. Esta función incluye, pero no está limitada, a asegurar políticas empresariales no discriminatorias, así como a asegurar que el interés superior del niño sea considerado de manera primordial en todas las circunstancias.

→ Contribuido por: Céline Marie Georgi, OHCHR, crc (arroba) ohchr.org xiv. Marcha Global Contra el Trabajo Infantil

Después las incidencias de trabajo infantil y explotación de los derechos humanos en las cadenas de suministro (en India) de las marcas populares de la ropa del oeste en años 2007-08, La Marcha Global contra el Trabajo Infantil formó el grupo de interesados directos sobre el Trabajo Infantil que incluyó las marcas, los fabricantes de la ropa, sindicatos y las ONG. El objetivo de este grupo ha sido idear estrategias para eliminar trabajo infantil en los niveles más bajos de las cadenas de suministro de las marcas populares especialmente en el sector informal de la economía India. La intervención se llama “Not Made by Chidren” (“No Hecho por los Niños” en Español). Sin embargo 9 debido de escasa colaboración de las marcas y los fabricantes, el progreso del grupo fue muy lento.

Entre Marzo de 2011 y Septiembre de 2013, UKaid de DFID (RAGS Challenge Fund) financió las intervenciones de La Marcha Global. Los objetivos esta vez fueron fortalecer la lucha contra el trabajo infantil y el tráfico por mejorar la inspección y vigilancia en cadenas de suministro de ropa; proporcionar la reparación de las víctimas y promover el trabajo decente para los adultos.

Para obtener más información acerca de los logros de esta intervención y visualización de las lecciones aprendidas y buenas prácticas desarrolladas por favor haga clic aquí.

→ Contribuido por: Rohit Sharma, Global March Against Child Labour, info (arroba) globalmarch.org xv. Plan Internacional Ecuador

Plan Internacional y los diarios nacionales El Universo y Súper se han aliado en torno a la Campaña global ‘Por ser niña’ para dar a conocer esta iniciativa y sensibilizar sobre los derechos de las niñas más excluidas del Ecuador con la finalidad de crear un país más equitativo, con mayor igualdad de género. Cada día leen ambos periódicos más de 700.000 personas.

Ambos directivos apostaron por cubrir cualquier información relacionada con la Campaña y publicar reportajes sobre experiencias de trabajo con niñas y niños por parte de los municipios. También se mostraron abiertos a diseñar y publicar un formato de adhesión a la Campaña por parte de la ciudadanía. Para David Alvarado del Plan Internacional estos acuerdos son un gran oportunidad para que la ciudadanía conozca, se sensibilice y actúe contra la situación de discriminación que sufren miles de niñas en el Ecuador.

→ Contribuido por: Sergio Rubo, Plan Internacional, sergio.rubio (arroba) plan-international.org xvi. ONG Raíces - Chile

El Aporte de la Empresa Privada en la Reparación del Daño a Niñas/os Victimas de Explotación Sexual Comercial Corporación ONG Raíces cuenta con dos Centros de Acogida para la reparación del daño a niñas/os víctimas de explotación sexual comercial, atendiendo a un total de 130 niñas/os y adolescentes. La explotación sexual comercial, causa un enorme daño físico, psicológico y espiritual a las niñas, niños y adolescentes.

ONG Raíces ha incorporado el teatro como una herramienta fundamental en el complejo proceso de reparación del daño en los niños/as atendidos. La Fundación San Carlos de Maipo ha sido testigo del crecimiento y perfeccionamiento que ha enriquecido esta metodología en los últimos tres años, gracias a que su apoyo permitió destinar recursos específicos a la misma. Así, se sistematizó el trabajo realizado hasta ese momento, se establecieron indicadores de evaluación del proceso y se mantuvo mayor comunicación con los equipos de los centros. Además, los montajes teatrales realizados cada año, se han constituido realmente como vivencia mágica para los chicos/as ya que se contó con recursos suficientes para la producción de escenografías y vestuarios que profesionalizaban la experiencia, enriqueciendo con ello, su efecto reparador. Desde el 2004, han participado del teatro reparatorio alrededor de 80 niños, niñas y adolescentes. Además, de los niños/as que han participado en el taller en estos años, el 80% ha interrumpido la explotación sexual gracias a ser parte de un proceso integral de reparación del daño.

→ Contribuido por: Denisse Araya Castelli, Directora Ejecutiva, ONG Raíces, raices (arroba) tie.cl xvii. Asociación Chilena pro Naciones Unidas

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El programa Puentes Educativos es fruto de una asociación público-privada-sociedad civil y es ejecutado por ACHNU desde comienzos de 2010, beneficiando a más de 9 mil niños y niñas de escuelas municipales con altos índices de vulnerabilidad en cinco regiones de Chile. Los socios son ACHNU, Pearson Foundation, Fundación Telefónica, Microsoft, Asociación de Municipalidades y Programa Enlaces.

La iniciativa pretende potenciar los aprendizajes de estudiantes de 5to y 6to básico, a través de la incorporación de la tecnología y el fortalecimiento de las habilidades del siglo XXI en el aula. Con ello, se busca reducir la brecha educativa existente entre escuelas municipales y escuelas particulares pagadas, potenciando el derecho de los niños y niñas a acceder a una educación pública de calidad.

A contar de 2014, ACHNU – a través de Puentes Educativos – se extenderá a 300 nuevas escuelas y más de 15 mil niñas y niños, en 6 nuevas regiones, buscando innovar en las prácticas educativas, potenciando en la motivación y la participación de los estudiantes en el aula. El proyecto cuenta con el respaldo institucional y económico del Ministerio de Educación, organismo que ha reconocido el aporte de Puentes Educativos a mejorar la calidad de la educación en Chile.

Mayor información www.puenteseducativos.cl

→ Contribuido por: Francis Valverde Mosquera, francisvalverde (arroba) achnu.cl xviii. Bank Information Center

En respuesta a la revisión en curso de las políticas de Salvaguardias del Banco Mundial, los estándares ambientales y sociales que son aplicables a los préstamos de inversión del Banco Mundial, el Bank Information Center [Centro de Información Bancaria] realizó seis consultas con niños/as sobre las Salvaguardias del Banco Mundial. Las consultas se dieron en seis países en los cuales el Banco Mundial juega un rol activo, e incluyeron más de 100 niños/as y adolescentes. Después de un taller educativo, los/as participantes hicieron recomendaciones al Banco Mundial, sobre cómo se podrían mejorar las salvaguardias para proteger mejor los derechos de los/as niños/as.

Después de dichas consultas, ocho niños/as de cuatro países viajaron a DC para compartir sus recomendaciones con los/as tomadores/as de decisiones del Banco Mundial y del Gobierno estadounidense. María Herczog, miembro del Comité de los Derechos del Niño de las Naciones Unidas, y Marta Maurás Pérez, ex miembro del Comité de los Derechos del Niños de las Naciones Unidas, ambas patrocinadas por la Comisión Internacional de Juristas, se unieron a los/as niños/as. Dichas peritas, explicaron que el Comentario General 16 del Comité reiteró las obligaciones de los Estados, como miembros del Banco Mundial, de proteger los derechos del niño. Existen planes para más interacción alrededor de la necesidad del Banco Mundial de incorporar un enfoque sobre los derechos del niño en las salvaguardias modificadas.

→ Contribuido por: Elana Berger, Asociada del Programa de Derechos del Niño, Bank Information Center [Centro de Información Bancaria], eberger (arroba) bicusa.org xix. Defensa de Niñas y Niños Internacional - DNI Costa Rica

Protegiendo a los niños, niñas y adolescentes trabajadores en Guatemala

La Fundación Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing (ECLT) con sede en Suiza y Defensa de Niñas y Niños – Internacional, DNI Costa Rica establecen un acuerdo para trabajar conjuntamente promoviendo oportunidades de desarrollo integral y de trabajo decente para adolescentes en zonas rurales donde se encuentran en los cultivos de tabaco en Guatemala. Esta alianza busca prevenir el involucramiento de personas de menores de 18 años en trabajos agrícolas en varios sectores especialmente en el cultivo del tabaco, que sean categorizados como trabajos peligrosos. De esta manera, se aborda uno de los problemas identificados regionalmente 11 y mundialmente que impacta significativamente en las tasas de trabajo infantil peligroso en las cadenas de abastecimiento.

La iniciativa espera desarrollarse en tres fases. Nos encontramos en la primera fase que comprende el desarrollo de un diagnóstico de situación y mapeos de actores. Dicho estudio contempla 5 ejes que son: a) El trabajo infantil y adolescente en Guatemala y los sistemas de Protección Integral; b) Empleo Juvenil en Guatemala; c) Desarrollo Rural y Mercado Laboral; d) Compañías Tabacaleras; e) Mapeo de Actores entre ellos los pequeños productores, sus familias y en particular los niños, niñas y adolescentes de las zonas rurales seleccionadas.

→ Contribuido por: Virginia Murillo Herrera, DNI-Costa Rica, presidencia (arroba) dnicostarica.org xx. Centro de Información sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos (CIEDH)

El boletín trimestral sobre Empresas y Niñez del CIEDH con gusto recibe contribuciones en diferentes idiomas. Por favor no dude en animar a sus contactos que trabajan por avanzar el respeto empresarial de los derechos del niño alrededor del mundo, a compartir su trabajo con una audiencia global a través de nuestro boletín!

El CIEDH agradece a todos los que nos han enviado comentarios sobre el uso de nuestro portal sobre empresas y niñez, como parte del proceso de rediseño de nuestro sitio web. Seguimos aceptando sugerencias de materiales para añadir a nuestro portal, así como comentarios de su experiencia como usuario. Por favor, no dude en escribirnos.

Nuestros boletines recientes sobre América Latina y el Medio Oriente y África del Norte incluyen secciones sobre trabajo infantil y medidas para enfrentarlo.

→ Contribuido por: Eniko Horvath, Centro de Información sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos, horvath (arroba) business-humanrights.org

Français xxi. Comité des droits de l'enfant

Dans le cadre du deuxième Forum des Nations Unies sur les entreprises et les droits de l’homme 2013, un panel sur le respect des entreprises pour les droits de l’enfant, a eu lieu le 4 décembre 2013 aux Palais des Nations à Genève. Le panel, présidé par Madame Marta Maurás, expert- conseil senior à l’UNICEF et ayant comme participants Monsieur Benyam Dawit Mezmur, Vice- President du Comité des droits de l’enfant, Monsieur Carmelo Angulo, ambassadeur espagnol ainsi que Monsieur Porntat Amatavivadhana, responsable de l’entreprise de promotion immobilière thailandaise Sansiri, a entamé une discussion fructueuse avec des représentants de différents états, de société civile ainsi que du secteur des entreprises. Sur le fond de l’Observation générale n°16 du Comité, sur les obligations des États concernant les incidences du secteur des entreprises sur les droits de l’enfant, le panel et l’audience ont souligné que le profit commercial et la compétitivité ne doivent jamais constituer un obstacle à une mise en œuvre effective des droits de l’homme. Le panel, ainsi que l’audience, ont également accentué l’importance d’aller au-delà de l’interdiction à nuire, le « do no harm-approach », en ce qui concerne l’impact sur les droits, et ont, entre autres, soulevé les questions de la consultation de l’enfant, de la diligence raisonnable concernant les droits de l´enfant, du droit à la réparation ainsi que du rôle des médias. Une importance toute particulière a été donnée au rôle des états dans leur action de soutien et de surveillance des obligations des sociétés en ce qui concerne les droits de l’enfant. Ce rôle inclut, mais n’est pas limité à, l’assurance que le meilleur intérêt de l’enfant soit une considération primaire en toute circonstance.

→ Contribution de: Céline Marie Georgi, OHCHR, crc (arobase) ohchr.org xxii. Marche mondiale contre le travail des enfants 12

A la suite des abus largement répandus dans le travail des enfants et dans les droits de l'homme aux niveaux plus bas des chaînes d'approvisionnement globales des marques de vêtements majeures en 2007-2008, La Marche mondiale contre le travail des enfants a convoqué un "Groupe de pilotage 'vêtements' contre le travail des enfants, pour de multiple parties intéressées. Ce groupe a compris des marques, des fabricants de vêtements, des syndicats et des ONGs pour créer ensemble des stratégies durables pour résoudre le problème du travail des enfants dans les chaînes d'approvisionnement des vêtements s'étendant à travers le secteur informel de l'économie en Inde. Cette intervention a été nommée “Pas fait par des enfants”. Cependant, en raison d'une coopération limitée de la part des membres de l'industrie du Groupe de pilotage pour s'engager avec la société civile aux niveaux plus bas des chaînes d'approvisionnement de vêtements, peu de progrès a pu être fait.

Entre mars 2011 et septembre 2013, les interventions en Inde ont été stimulées grâce à une bourse par UKAid du fonds "Challenge Secteur du vêtement Responsable" du DFID. Le but de l'intervention était de rendre plus forts les efforts contre le travail des enfants et le trafic des enfants par l'amélioration de l'inspection du travail et par le contrôle des chaînes d'approvisionnement des vêtements, pour pouvoir ensuite aider les victimes et promouvoir du travail décent pour adultes. Pour apprendre plus sur les succès de cette intervention and pour regarder une "boîte à outils" de leçons apprises et des bonnes pratiques découvertes, veuillez cliquer ici.

→ Contribution de: Rohit Sharma, Global March Against Child Labour, info (arobase) globalmarch.org xxiii. Institut international des Droits de l'Enfant (IDE)

Le séminaire international annuel de l'Institut international des Droits de l'Enfant (IDE) a eu lieu à Sion (Suisse) du 15 au 18 octobre sur le thème du tourisme sexuel impliquant des enfants. Une centaine de participants ont examiné de façon interdisciplinaire les facteurs poussant criminels (malades ou inconscients/occasionnels) et enfants victimes (dont l'éventuel consentement n'est pas légalement pertinent) à se rejoindre dans cette forme d’exploitation. Le séminaire a permis d’entrer dans diverses réalités (Brésil, Cambodge, Kenya, Madagascar, Maroc, Saint-Domingue). Essentiellement, il reste question de richesse et pauvreté qui se côtoient, un mélange explosif dont les effets pervers sont d’autant plus difficiles à contrer/chiffrer qu’ils se produisent en majorité dans le secteur informel. Les industriels du tourisme ont néanmoins un rôle à jouer (ex. mettre en place des mécanismes de signalement, encourager des projets générateurs de revenus de substitution, se cotiser en faveur des victimes et de la recherche). Ils partagent leur responsabilité avec les Etats (qui doivent lutter contre l'impunité et protéger les victimes) et les acteurs de la société civile. Le contenu détaillé de toutes les conférences sera publié prochainement. Prochain Séminaire: «Nouvelles technologies et droits de l’enfant: droit à l’information vs droit à la protection» 14-17 octobre 2014!

→ Contribution de: Evelyne Monnay, Institut international des Droits de l'Enfant (IDE), evelyne.monnay (arobase) childsrights.org xxiv. Centre de Ressources sur les Entreprises & les Droits de l’Homme

Le Bulletin trimestriel sur les Entreprises et les Enfants encourage la publication de ressources à la fois en anglais et dans d’autres langues – n’hésitez pas à inviter vos contacts à travers le monde, qui travaillent sur le respect des droits des enfants, à partager leur travail avec une audience globale à travers le bulletin !

Le Centre de Ressources remercie tous ceux qui ont fourni des commentaires sur leur expérience du portail sur les entreprises et les droits de l’enfant dans le cadre de la refonte de notre site web. Nous continuons d’accepter des suggestions à la fois sur les ressources à inclure sur notre portail et des commentaires sur les expériences de nos utilisateurs. N’hésitez pas à nous contacter.

13

Nos bulletins régionaux sur Amérique du Sud et Moyen Orient et Afrique du Nord incluent des sections sur le travail des enfants et des mesures pour le combattre.

→ Contribution de: Eniko Horvath, Centre de Ressources sur les Entreprises & les Droits de l’Homme, horvath (arobase) business-humanrights.org

3. Other news and developments

Below are some recent news stories and developments. For more, see the Resource Centre’s full archive of news on business and children.

Global

• ILO figures show a decline in the number of child labourers globally, but indicate that progress is too slow to meet 2016 target for eliminating worst forms of child labour. • US Dept. of Labour’s new report on efforts around the world to eliminate worst forms of child labour covers 143 country profiles and provides analysis of global and regional trends. 13 countries received “No advancement” in the report’s assessment for not having undertaken meaningful actions to combat child labour. Three of these countries continue to use compulsory child labour (Dem. Rep. of Congo, Eritrea, Uzbekistan). • According to Walk Free Foundation’s Global Slavery Index, “29 million children and adults around the world work in servitude”. The Index refers to incidents of child labour, trafficking and/or sexual exploitation in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Haiti, India, Ireland, Nepal, Pakistan, Switzerland, and UK. • UNESCO, UNICEF & UN Global Compact developed a framework for companies on how to gain business benefits while advancing education aiming to help them make the case internally for engaging in education. • Brunel University analysed the risks of child labour, trafficking and sexual exploitation at major sporting events, including 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. • Maplecroft Child Labour Index 2014 finds increased child labour in China and Russia, notes improvements in South America. • Human Rights Watch calls on governments to sign the new treaty on toxic mercury to protect children and women of childbearing age working in mines from harmful exposure. (also in French / disponible en Français) • Travel company Kuoni has continued its efforts to understand adverse impacts and maximise positive contributions of tourism to local children’s lives through consultations with children in human rights impact assessment in India. • Google & Microsoft introduced new measures to block child porn & fight abuse following calls from UK Prime Minister David Cameron for stronger action by companies. • Following Toys R Us’ commitment to gender-neutral marketing in UK, a petition called on US stores to follow suit. "We look forward to seeing Toys R Us lead the way to a more inclusive future for boys and girls", says a campaigner. Africa

• Burkina Faso: Local NGOs launch campaign against child labour in gold mines in three towns. “In the past two years, we have had 233 children abandon school for gold mines”, says an advocate. (only in French / en Français) • Kenya: Journalist’s visit to tobacco farms finds forced child labour, exposing children to health risks & depriving them of education. • Nigeria: Ministry of Education calls on internet, technology and communication companies to help support technology education in public schools. 14

• Nigeria: Private sector health alliance and UNICEF launch programme to increase production of therapeutic foods to combat malnutrition in children. • Nigeria: Chevron launches de-worming programme for children in Ondo State schools. • Zambia: Trade union congress calls on labour leaders to be more involved in tackling child labour and says the phenomenon is still prevalent in agriculture, construction and quarrying.

Americas

• Argentina: Empresas por la Infancia emphasises the importance of responsible maternity and paternity policies and makes recommendations to companies on integrating children’s rights into marketing and communication practices. (only in Spanish / en Español) • Argentina: 20 companies join programme to provide work experience for disadvantaged youth in orphanages, helping their integration into the labour market. (only in Spanish / en Español) • Argentina: UNICEF Argentina publishes brochure on effective social investments in children’s rights. (only in Spanish / en Español) • Brazil: Brasilia Declaration adopted at 3rd Global Conference on Child Labour. • Chile: Chileans file lawsuit in Sweden against Boliden mining company alleging it enabled the export and dumping of toxic waste in Chile in 1980s that reportedly causes micarriages and major health problems including lead poisoning in children. Boliden’s statement on this case is here. • Colombia: Telefónica Movistar Colombia receives prize from UN Global Compact for guide to address risk of child labour in supply chains. (only in Spanish / en Español) • Dominican Republic: US Dept. of Labour says the country made “a minimal advancement” to eliminate worst forms of child labour, including in sugar industry and commercial sexual exploitation. (also in Spanish / en Español) • Haiti: Partners in Health and Abbott open new production facility for Nourimanba, a therapeutic food to treat severe malnutrition in children. (only in Spanish / en Español) • USA: Companies behind "kids for cash" juvenile detention centre scandal agree to settle civil lawsuit for $2.5 million. See case profile here.

Asia & Pacific

• Australia: BHP Billiton commits $10 million in scholarships for indigenous students. • Bangladesh: Undercover journalist works in garment factory and reports on child labour, poor working conditions: “There were no fire extinguishers, no exit other than the main door…It was back-breaking, it was finger-numbing. It was particularly rage- inducing…Meem, the youngest…did not attend school anymore, never had any time to play and dreamed of being a sewing operator one day”. • Cambodia: Natl. Institute of Statistics says there are 429,000 child labourers in the country, mostly working in agriculture and informal businesses; more than half are in hazardous conditions. • China: Pollutants from Dongfang Plating and other chemical factories allegedly caused nosebleeds and chest pains among 100 children at a nearby school. Many of them operated without environmental approval. (also in Chinese) • China: UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about child trafficking and sexual exploitation linked to casinos in Macau. 15

• India: Video shows Rohingya from Myanmar pushed into cheap labour and child labour in Kashmir after fleeing sectarian violence. “Since our children have no school to attend, we bring them along and they also make some money by working at least 10 hours a day”, says Maryam Batool, a Rohingya refugee. • India: Not for Sale encourages looking to employees as drivers of change to rid corporate supply chains of child and forced labour. Child labour continues to be a prevailing issue in the country. For example, according to a survey, 32.8% of girls under 14 years in Dhuliyan work in the bidi industry. A recent study analysed the effects of the 1986 child labour ban, and found an increase in child labour as well as a decrease in wages for child labourers since it came into force. • Myanmar: Report examines child labour in agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors in Mon State – based on interviews with child labourers. “I have been working since I was 11 years old. At that time I worked on a rubber plantation [clearing weeds and shrubs]. Right now I work as a bus attendant carrying baggage for the passengers. Sometimes I have to carry heavy things that are bigger than my own body”, says a 13-year-old boy. • Pakistan: Civil society and local authorities call for government survey on child labour. “In many cases obstacles are present at such basic levels of legislation that it is virtually impossible to implement and enforce any sort of significant change without proper laws”, said an NGO representative. • Thailand: Board of Trade partners with companies and industry associations to curb child labour, forced labour and human trafficking related to fisheries. • Thailand: Natural Fruit sued Andy Hall, the author of a report alleging child labour, forced labour, and poor working conditions in a canning factory. His case has received support from UN special procedures mandate holders who expressed concern that the charges “may be based on his peaceful actions gathering and publishing evidence of facts”. • Aviva & CSR Asia published a report on how companies in Asia are helping to protect and improve vulnerable children’s rights. Case studies include positive initiatives by adidas Group, HSBC, Kuoni, Microsoft and The Body Shop. As a follow-up to the report, a roundtable was held in Singapore on enhancing business engagement in children’s rights.

Europe & Central Asia

• Afghanistan: GAVI Alliance supports new campaign to vaccinate infants against pneumococcal disease. • Kyrgyzstan: Ministry of Education and ILO launch evening classes and informal education programme to combat child labour. • Malta: Government calls for proposals on child care facilities to reduce high gender employment gap. • UK: Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre says half of child sexual abuse online takes place over social networks and suggests that companies could do more to combat it. • Uzbekistan: Cotton Campaign’s review of the 2013 harvest says firms continue to purchase cotton produced with forced labour and raises concerns about local businesses' involvement in system. We invited Daewoo Intl., GM Uzbekistan, Indorama, Shurtanneftegaz, Trustbank to respond – see here for responses and non-responses. Human rights NGOs raised concern about an Uzbek journalist’s alleged detention over reporting on child and forced labour in the cotton harvest.

Middle East & North Africa

• Jordan/Lebanon: UNICEF and Save the Children offer assistance to Syrian refugee families in Jordan to fight child labour. The education systems in Lebanon and Jordan are 16

overstretched and children out of school are at an increased risk of abuse and child labour, a “lost generation”, according to aid agencies. UNHCR released a report on the psychological damage and exploitation faced by Syrian refugee children. • Lebanon: Government launches a national action plan pledging to end the worst forms of child labour by 2016. • Tunisia: Political unrest and rising cost of education are reportedly contributing to a rise in school dropouts and child labour. • Yemen: School registration has improved in the past decade, but more than one million children are still working, according UNICEF studies. • Yemen: Private radio FM Shabab encourages youth to discuss human rights, female empowerment and child labour.