UNICEF and the fund establish children’s rights network

UNICEF and Norges Bank Investment Management have joined forces to establish a network where companies can assess the business risk of adverse impacts on children, and also challenge and improve their respect for and work on children’s human rights.

“Over time, we hope and expect that the network will contribute to improved market practices among companies and greater respect for children’s rights,” says Carine Smith Ihenacho, Global Head of Ownership Strategies.

The network will facilitate dialogue, exchange experience of children’s rights efforts, and work to increase awareness and acceptance of children’s rights. The companies will discuss how best to integrate respect and support for these rights into their policies and practices and their management and reporting systems.

"Child labour is only one of the areas where child rights are affected. Parents' conditions and their ability to care for their children are also very important. The families’ standard of living, access to education and to basic hygiene, pollution - they could all be affected in various ways by companies’ conduct", says Camilla Viken, executive director of UNICEF Norway.

A selection of companies in which Norges Bank Investment Management has holdings have been invited to join the network. More than ten will attend the first network event in Geneva on 27 November, together with experts in the field who will help guide the dialogue. Over the next two years, the plan is to hold three workshops as well as quarterly meetings.