Supporting Families Means Supporting Children’s Rights – And Business Has a Role to Play

As we mark the International Day of Families on 15 May, it’s time to move beyond sentimental tributes and face a harder truth: families don’t exist in a vacuum. From the price of basic goods to the policies that govern parental leave, the world of business shapes the daily realities of parents and children alike.

At Global Child Forum, we believe that children’s rights cannot be fully realised without business on board. Companies have the power—and the responsibility—to help create environments where families can truly thrive. It’s not just about doing good; it’s about doing business responsibly in a world where children are stakeholders too.

How does business impact families?

Whether directly or indirectly, business decisions affect family life around the world:

• A company’s approach to parental leave and workplace flexibility can shape how much time parents have with their children.
• Responsible supply chain practices help ensure that children are not engaged in child labour, and that families are not forced to make impossible trade-offs between income and education.
• Companies that build safe and age-appropriate digital spaces support families navigating today’s connected world.

In short, the well-being of families and the rights of children are interconnected—and business can either help uphold or hinder both.

5 ways companies can protect children and strengthen families

At Global Child Forum, we work with businesses to help them understand and act on their impact on children’s lives.

Here are a few concrete ways companies can lead the way:

1. Assess and understand your impact

Use tools like children’s rights impact assessments to identify where and how your operations, products, and services may affect children and families.

2. Promote family-friendly workplace policies

Support working parents with robust parental leave, flexible working arrangements, and childcare solutions. For instance, Hewlett Packard Enterprise offers 26 weeks of fully paid parental leave worldwide, redefining what is possible for working families. These policies benefit not only employees, but also business outcomes like retention and productivity.

3. Ensure child-safe supply chains

Go beyond compliance. Take proactive steps to identify risks of child labour and poor working conditions that place pressure on families.

4. Engage with young stakeholders

Children and youth are often overlooked in stakeholder consultations. Meaningful engagement with young people can lead to better products, services, and policies that reflect their needs and rights. Through our Listen Up! initiative, companies like Orange, Tele2, Telia Company, and Vodafone are listening directly to young people to shape safer, more inclusive digital spaces.

5. Use your voice

As respected actors in society, businesses can advocate for systems that support families—whether through public-private partnerships, policy dialogue, or community engagement.

This International Day of Families, we encourage all businesses to reflect not only on the value of families—but on the ways they can be part of building a world where every child grows up safe, supported, and heard.

Because when families thrive, so do children. And when children thrive, so does society