UNICEF Cambodia and Save the Children in Cambodia on Friday hosted a forum in Phnom Penh marking the 10th anniversary of the global launch of the Children’s Rights and Business Principles.
These principles offer guidelines for businesses as they embed children’s rights into their business strategies and activities.
Fifty representatives from the private sector, the government, and development partners joined the forum to discuss business responsibilities when it comes to children’s rights, celebrate the progress made, and agree on priorities for the next ten years.
Huot Pum, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said the government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992 and remains committed to protecting and fulfilling the rights of all children.
“All children are affected by the actions of the business sector not only as consumers but also as future employees and business leaders. The Children’s Rights and Business Principles have provided crucial guidance as the Government has worked with the private sector to embed children’s rights at the heart of the Cambodian economy. Today we recognise the progress made in the last 10 years and reaffirm our continued commitment to further progress in the 10 years ahead,” Pum said.
The Children’s Rights and Business Principles were developed by UNICEF, Save the Children, and UN Global Compact in 2012 to provide guidance for businesses on putting children’s rights at the heart of their policies and practices, according to the press release.
Children are influenced by the private sector as consumers of products and services, through exposure to marketing and advertising, as users of digital platforms, or through the environments where they live and play. The forum was an opportunity to encourage and inspire businesses to adopt responsible practices with children’s rights at their heart.
“Children’s lives are affected every day by the private sector, and it’s essential that businesses act in ways that value, respect and support their rights,” said Will Parks, UNICEF’s Representative in Cambodia.
