Side event to United Nations Human Rights Council session, Palais des Nations (UN Geneva), 14 June 2011

and launch of Business & Children Portal

Co-organised by UNICEF and Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

This side event brought together a broad range of panellists to discuss a subject gaining increased attention: what children’s rights mean for the private sector. This relates not only to child labour, but to all aspects in which business practices impact on children in the workplace, marketplace and community – including but not limited to the right of children to health and education; trafficking of children in the supply chain; sexual exploitation of children; working conditions that impact workers in their roles as parents; etc.

Panellists and texts of their presentations:

Leila Pakkala, Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships, UNICEF

Henrik Holmquist, Advisor - Office of the Secretary-General, Save the Children Sweden

Marta Maurás, Independent expert, Committee on the Rights of the Child

Ulf Karlberg, Co-Chair, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Christopher Avery, Director, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Several new initiatives were explained, including:

• The launch (at this side event) of an online “Business & Children Portal” by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

• The current initiative by UNICEF, Save the Children and UN Global Compact to develop Children’s Rights and Business Principles; and

• The forthcoming drafting of a general comment on business & children’s rights by the Committee on the Rights of the Child.