Global

The way we conduct business anywhere in the world impacts children. Workplace conditions, terms of labour and employment – even pricing and policies that limit the ability of parents to provide for their families: Each of these business decisions has consequences for children's well-being. In some cases, practices that do not violate adults’…, Key facts, Over 1 billion children are touched by global business supply chains directly or indirectly, through their impact on families. Around 160 million children were subjected to child labour in 2020, with millions more at risk since the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 800 million mothers worldwide are not adequately protected with leave and cash benefits in…, Topics in child rights and business, Child playing Finance and investing, Investors need to be cautious of making investments in companies with business practices that may cause harm to children. UNICEF works with partners to develop practical guidance and tools for investors to assess a business’s performance based on how their practices support children’s rights. >>Read: Investor Guidance on Integrating Children…, Young child holding mobile phone Child rights in a digital world, An estimated one in three internet users globally is a child. Wider access to digital technologies poses significant risks to children, both offline and online. UNICEF collaborates with governments and technology companies – from online gaming to mobile operators – to keep children safe online. We focus on ending online child sexual exploitation…, Mothers, breastfeeding Supply chains and the workplace, Supply chains and the workplace can impact children in a number of ways. Related rights issues include poor living conditions, environmental pollution and hazards, and insufficient services and care for maternal health.  UNICEF promotes family-friendly policies that can offer parents and caregivers the time, resources and services they need to…, A child holding a slate in school State action on child rights, Although businesses are responsible for the impact of their activities on children's rights, the ultimate accountability lies with authorities at national and global levels. Governments have specific obligations to realize children’s rights when it comes to regulating business operations. >>Read: Children's Rights in National Action Plans on…, What we do, In 2012, UNICEF launched Children's Rights and Business Principles alongside Save the Children and the UN Global Compact. These principles look at the impact businesses have on children and ways to address them. UNICEF has engaged businesses in over 70 countries, collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, including industry associations,…, Publications and resources

Online child sexual exploitation and abuse continue to grow and diversify. This report sets out how the WeProtect Global Alliance Model National Response framework is supporting national efforts to tackle this scourge. The WeProtect Global Alliance and UNICEF worked together on this review, which captures an extensive body of experience across 42…

The use of new, rapidly changing digital technologies to sexually exploit and abuse children, the wide reach of online services and the fact that such exploitation and abuse may involve victims and perpetrators from different jurisdictions, all pose challenges to States seeking to protect their children. Many States have yet to put in place or…

This brief is an extract from UNICEF’s report 'Ending online child sexual exploitation and abuse: Lessons learned and promising practices in low- and middle income countries' ( Ending Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse | UNICEF ), and sets out examples of scale up, adaptation and innovation in UNICEF programming to address children’s…

This report takes stock of UNICEF’s work to address online child sexual exploitation and abuse. It is intended for policymakers and practitioners to inform policy and practice in this field. Based primarily on analysis of survey responses from 29 UNICEF country offices, the report sets out the current level of implementation of the WeProtect Model…

UNICEF is committed to tackling all forms of sexual misconduct and sexual violence. The United Nations distinguishes between sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual violence against children. Sexual exploitation refers to any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for…, Sexual exploitation and abuse, In every context in which UNICEF operates, whether in emergency or non-emergency settings, people trust development and humanitarian workers to assist and protect them. The vast majority do so with professionalism and integrity. However, some aid workers abuse their position of power through the sexual exploitation and abuse of those who depend on…, UNICEF’s programming to protect children, UNICEF’s Protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse Child Protection programming helps prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. We’re on the ground in more than 150 countries and territories, providing a first line of response for children at risk. UNICEF aims to provide timely assistance to every victim of sexual…, UNICEF’s work with implementing partners, UNICEF works together with our implementing partners to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse in their operations. UNICEF requires that all civil-society-organization implementing partners are assessed on their capacity to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse and meet specific core standards. One way that UNICEF supports…, UNICEF’s work within the United Nations system, UNICEF actively participates in joint United Nations (UN) efforts to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. Find more information on these efforts led by the UN Special Coordinator on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse here , and those led by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee here ., UNICEF’s public accountability with respect to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, UNICEF publicly posts information about reported cases of sexual exploitation and abuse on the UN system-wide tracker, whether the allegations involve personnel or partners implementing its programmes .  Annually, UNICEF’s Executive Director certifies that all known UNICEF cases of sexual exploitation and abuse have been or are being addressed.…, Sexual harassment, UNICEF considers sexual harassment to be a form of misconduct, and takes any reports of sexual harassment seriously. Sexual harassment may occur in the workplace or in connection with work, for example during official travel or social functions related to work. While typically involving a pattern of conduct, sexual harassment may take the form of…, Report sexual exploitation or abuse, sexual harassment or other types of misconduct, If you become aware of credible information regarding a possible situation of sexual exploitation or abuse, sexual harassment or other types of misconduct, please report it directly or through your head of office to UNICEF’s Office of Internal Audit and Investigations  by emailing integrity1@unicef.org . If you are uncertain that the situation is…, Learn more

The Action to End Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, online and offline, is intended for policy makers and partners. It uses key findings from the UNICEF evidence review to propose a framework of action to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation.

This evidence review documents what we know about the extent, nature and consequences of child sexual abuse and exploitation for children in different contexts. It outlines evidence of effective interventions and strategies to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation. The findings of this evidence review are summarized in Action…

Conditions of employment not only have a significant impact on the well-being of workers but also their children and families. Yet, for the hundreds of millions of workers in global supply chains, basic entitlements that provide them with the time, services and resources to support their families are widely absent. The large-scale business…

Violence against children takes many forms. It can be physical, emotional or sexual. It happens in all countries and any setting – in a child's home, community, school and online. In some parts of the world, violent discipline is socially accepted and common. And for many girls and boys, violence comes at the hands of the people they trust – their…, Explore topics, In Honduras, a fourteen-year-old boy sits at home as his mother places her palm on his back in comfort. Violence in schools, Every child has the right to go to school and learn, free from fear. Learn more, A 16-year-old girl in Madagascar browses the Internet. Violence online, Every child must be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse on the internet. Learn more, An 8-year-old girl clutches a stuffed toy while sitting on the arm of a bench at a shelter in her home country.. Sexual violence, Sexual violence knows no boundaries. It occurs in every country, across all parts of society. Learn more, Key facts, Some 15 million adolescent girls aged 15–19 have experienced forced sex in their lifetime. About 10% of the world's children are not legally protected from corporal punishment. Over 1 in 3 students aged 13–15 experience bullying worldwide. Approximately 1 in 4 children under the age of 5 – some 176 million – live with a mother who is a victim of…, How does violence against children affect sustainable development?, Violence against children significantly undermines the social and economic development of communities and nations. The global economic costs resulting from physical, psychological and sexual violence against children are estimated to be as high as $7 trillion – roughly 8 per cent of global GDP annually. Increased public expenditure on child…, Resources, UNICEF Humanitarian Practice: COVID-19 Technical Guidance End Violence against Children Homepage Advocacy Brief: Violence Against Children Advocacy Brief: Child Online Protection Action to End Violence against Children in Schools: Review of Programme Interventions Illustrating Actions to Address Violence against Children in and around Schools …, UNICEF’s response, Children from Burudi use tablets to learn in a refugee camp in Rwanda in 2019. In Mahama Camp, Rwanda, UNICEF and partners provide tablet-based learning sessions for Burundian refugee children in 2019. Each week, over 500 children participate in these sessions to learn about gender equality, violence prevention, and how to report violence through…

Investor support to better take into account children’s rights in investment policies, processes and decision-making.

Balancing child online rights between empowerment and protection.