Why is this important?

It is important for the highest governance body to not merely put their seal of approval on policy frameworks. They must also establish which issues are important for the company to focus on. This is most often expressed by monitoring progress and being involved with related compliance issues (i.e. receive reporting back or charge a dedicated committee or responsible party with this task).

About the scoring

A score of 10 is given if it is clear from public disclosures that the highest governance body has responsibility for policies including child rights, compliance with these policies, and monitoring progress and challenges with topics impacting children’s rights. For example, if the governance body oversees effect on children’s rights in the following areas:

• Outcome of company policies
• Compliance with company policies
• Monitoring progress on material social or environmental topics
• Ensuring there are structures or processes in place to provide information on the perspectives of stakeholders affected by company activities
• Monitoring progress and challenges with regard to the company’s salient human rights and environmental risks

A score of 5 is given if it is clear from public disclosures that human rights are taken into consideration within the responsibilities of the highest governance body, but children are not specifically included.

Indicator reference

UN Guiding Principles:

(The corporate responsibility to respect human rights):

• Principles 15-24

Children’s Rights and Business Principles:

• All business should meet their responsibility to respect children’s rights and commit to supporting the human rights of children (Principle 1)

The GRI standards:

• Reference 2-9, 2-12, 2-13, 2-14

OECD MNE Guidelines:

• Part 1, Chapter 4, p. 27, Paragraph 4
• Part 1, Chapter 3, p. 21, 3

OECD DD Guidelines:

• Chapter 1, p.23, 1.2

ESRS Indicators: GOV-1, GOV-2, MDR-P, S1-2, S2-2, S3-2, S4-2