UNICEF Canada CSR and the extractive industry. Simon Chorley International Programs Manager

Transcription

1 UNICEF Canada CSR and the extractive industry Simon Chorley International Programs Manager

2 UNICEF and children s rights UNICEF In 190 countries saving children s lives. Partners with governments, businesses, and civil society to realize children s rights. Convention on the Rights of the Child UNICEF is guided by the CRC, which incorporates the full range of child rights. The CRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty in the world. Health HIV/AIDS WASH Nutrition Education Protection Social inclusion

3 Business and Human Rights State Duty to Protect Prevent, investigate, punish and redress human rights abuse through effective policies, legislation, regulations and adjudication. Corporate Responsibility to Respect Avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through their own activities. Prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to their business. Access to Remedy Ensure through judicial, administrative, legislative or other appropriate means, that those affected by abuses have access to effective remedy.

4 Guiding Principles: particular needs of children State Duty to Protect recognizing the specific challenges that may be faced by children. Corporate Responsibility to Respect enterprises should respect the human rights of individuals belonging to specific groups or populations that require particular attention such as children. Access to Remedy individuals from vulnerable or marginalized groups often face additional impediments. Particular attention should be given to the rights of such groups at each stage of the remedial process.

5 Why children? Why business? Children make up half the population in the world s least developed countries. Children are consumers, young workers, future employees, and depend on family who work for businesses. Children are at a unique stage of development, more vulnerable, and less visible. Business will better identify and manage child-related risks. Business will enhance their reputation and social license to operate. Business will increase their workforce diversity, motivation, engagement and loyalty.

6 UNICEF engagement on CSR Government Business Civil Society Policy and advocacy Policies and frameworks Corporate partnerships Sustainability strategies Program implementation Visibility and influence Risk management: UNICEF will act on human rights violations

7 UNICEF engagement with businesses Positively changing business behaviour and practices as they affect children Governments adopt measures to promote child rights to businesses Child rights is on the wider agenda: businesses engage on child rights and implement the Principles Integrate child rights and corporate responsibility into all corporate partnerships

8 Children s Rights and Business Principles

9 Materiality of Principles to specific sectors

10 Examples from UNICEF partners IKEA will use the Children s Rights and Business Principles to strengthen the work we do throughout our business to protect the rights of children from supply chain and product development to advocating on behalf of children. H&M s approach to its business operations is informed by the Children's Rights and Business Principles... H&M has special guidelines for the advertising of children's concepts and pays particular attention to child safety.

11 Why mining companies? They often work in the most volatile areas in the world, encountering the most vulnerable children; The Toronto Stock Exchange is home to 57 percent of the world s public mining companies; Two thirds of Canadian mining companies operations are overseas; The Government of Canada s strategy for corporate responsibility focuses on the extractive sector.

12 Materiality to mining companies

13 Principle 2: Elimination of child labour UNICEF and partners Impact Response 55,331 people on 86 ASM sites in 5 regions in Burkina Faso. 98% worked more than 10 hours a day. 86% have never attended school. 60% without one or both parents. 58% of children in ASM are years old. 6,681 children age 3-6 in pre-school education. 11,577 children age 6-12 enrolled in school. 947 children age in literacy education. 1,057 children age in vocational training. 1,350 mothers have income generating activities. 20,262 children in ASM reached.

14 Principle 10: Community and government UNICEF and Teck Impact Response Children are subject to the wider impacts of business. Businesses can impact the community and government efforts to protect children. Long-term, strategic and integrated social investments can lead to exponential growth. International Zinc Association and Zinc Saves Kids partnerships. Program support for: Vitamin and micronutrient programs in Nepal and Peru. Health Extension Worker program in Namibia. Diarrhea treatment program in India.

15 Principle 4: Child protection and safety UNICEF and Sherritt Impact Response Children could be subject to exploitation, violence and abuse. Large temporary male migrant workforces. Conduct of security forces towards young people. Migrant and unaccompanied children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, sexual exploitation, and HIV/AIDS. Sherritt International in Madagascar implemented a Zero Tolerance Code of Conduct and training for all staff, contractors and suppliers. All-site third-party security risk assessment with child focus. They also provided support for local child protection networks and training for practitioners.

16 Principle 3: Decent work for young people Rakai Resources is exploring for gold in northern Uganda. Partnership between SeedRock Group and Salama Shield Foundation. Combining natural resources and social development. Vocational centre training young people from ASM in safety, environmental responsibility, mechanisation, finance and business studies. Exploring partnerships with government and NGOs to expand in Uganda and to other countries.

17 This is not another framework

18 Other issues raised We focus on human rights, not children s rights The fall in commodity prices doesn t allow us to do more We can t measure impact or see a return on investment We ve just made cuts and don t have the staff or budget

19 UNICEF tools and projects Upcoming work: Stakeholder engagement Grievance mechanisms Consultancies guidance Extractive sector guidance Student placements

20 Challenges and next steps CSR vs fundraising Government Reputation vs resources Communities Companies Collaboration vs competition Short-term gain vs long-term change What else? Media NGOs Academia Consultancies