UN launches child rights' guidelines for business sector

New Delhi, Aug 1 (IANS) In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, Unicef Wednesday launched a set of guidelines on child rights for the business sector, which include elimination of child labour.

The guideline put together 10 principles on how business can respect and support child rights in core industry activities, engagement with children and philanthropy.

"A business that integrates respect and support for child rights into its strategy and operations will generate benefit for the business also. It has to be realised that children are the future customers, employees and investors," said James Gitau, country representative with United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) India.

The principles include measures such as meeting responsibility to respect child rights, committing support to human rights, elimination of child labour, decent work for young workers and parents.

The guidelines, launched by 'Save the Children and UN', also lays out principles such protection and safety of children, marketing and advertising respecting children, and help to protect children affected by emergencies.

"Many business leaders today support the idea of child rights being integrated with business practices. The initiative needs the commitment of entire business community as India needs to make significant investments and improvements in the lives of children," said Thomas Chandy, chief executive officer at Save the Children India.

"The business community needs to ensure that child labour does not figure in their supply chain and they imbibe the ten business principles," Chandy added.