Children’s Participation Guide

About this guide

Welcome to Global Child Forum’s guide on children’s participation in business, aimed at businesses that are either already engaged in, or considering involving children in their decision-making processes. Involving children and youth – whether through focus groups or formal employment – teaches them to exercise their rights to participate and speak up. Businesses also benefit from the active participation of children: they have fresh, unique viewpoints and perspectives that may not be offered by adults.

This guide was created in consultation with corporate leaders in children’s participation in business, leading researchers in this field, as well as children and young people. The guide can be seen as a next step after using The Workbook – how to implement a children’s rights perspective.

Who is it for?

This guide is primarily directed to sustainability teams within multinational corporations with an interest in advancing children’s rights in business. The guide can also be useful to smaller companies wishing to involve children and gain their insights. The guide is aimed both at industries that directly engage with children as consumers, as well as those that do not directly sell or market their products to children.

What does this guide contain?

• Concrete advice on how and when to include children in business decision-making processes
• Guidance on how to get started
• Guidance on how to take action
• Examples from other companies such as IKEA and Telia
• Tips for other useful resources