Guidance tool to improve the impact on children in global apparel and footwear supply chains
10 June 2020
The guidance tool is intended for use by company practitioners who would like to integrate child rights in their responsible sourcing policies and practices. The tool also contains metrics that companies can use to monitor and report on their own processes and on outcomes at factory level.
“At Norges Bank Investment Management, we see respect for children’s rights as an inherent part of good business practice and risk management” says NBIM Chief Corporate Governance Officer Carine Smith Ihenacho. “It is our hope that the guidance tool and our partnership with UNICEF will contribute to improved market practices and greater respect for children’s rights across the sector”.
The guidance tool is the outcome of a children’s rights network that we established with UNICEF in 2017 for companies in the garment and footwear sector. For two years, the network has brought together companies and subject-matter experts to exchange experiences and explore the sector’s impacts on children’s rights and ways in which companies can address these.
The guidance tool outlines concrete steps companies can take to improve impact on children, including:
- Assess child rights risks and business preparedness to address them
- Integrate child rights into policies and management systems
- Get internal buy-in and engage key decision-makers
- Strengthen supplier capacity to address child rights and root causes
- Monitor and evaluate progress
- Engage stakeholders, workers and implement grievance processes
- Report on progress and child rights outcomes
- Collaborate and invest in multi-stakeholder initiatives
- Support governments and advocate for children’s rights
The guidance tool is accompanied by a summary report that outlines activities undertaken by the network since 2017 to encourage responsible business practices for children in the garment and footwear sector.
Press contact:
Marthe Skaar
Head of Communications and External Relations (acting)
Tel. no.: +47 92617663
E-mail: press@nbim.no