Global Child Forum calls for greater corporate accountability for children's rights

Ekin Ergün Björstedt of the Global Child Forum and Johan Öberg of Boston Consulting Group are calling for increased corporate accountability regarding children's rights. In an editorial piece, they argue that large corporations must take responsibility for all children affected by their operations, including those they may never meet directly.

The discussion coincides with the presentation of the thirteenth annual ‘The State of Children’s Rights & Business’ report at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. The study, which surveyed 1,802 companies, highlights gaps in how influential businesses address child-related issues.

While 55 percent of companies identify child-related issues as material, the authors note that risks extend beyond direct child labor in factories. Factors such as inadequate parental wages, long working hours, and lack of childcare can indirectly force children into labor. Additionally, the report notes that children are often overlooked in corporate assessments regarding environmental impacts, such as air pollution, and in the design of products, services, and marketing.