Vodafone, Telenor, Deutsche Telekom top Global Child Forum’s Tech & Telecom Children’s Rights and Business Benchmark

STOCKHOLM, MARCH 1, 2022

Stockholm-based Global Child Forum today announced the results of their latest benchmark report which takes a close look at the state of children’s rights within the Technology and Telecommunications sector. The report, done in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group and launched at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, is the largest of its kind and shows that companies within this sector need to urgently address the implications of their actions on children.

A  closer look at company scores reveals that, while many companies have policies, there is weak understanding of the impact of those policies on children more so now given the role the sector is playing during the covid crisis.  The sector scored on average 5.2, still a significant distance to the top possible score of 10.

To read the report and see all company scores, click here.

 Cajsa Wiking, Secretary General, Global Child Forum, commented:

“The Tech and Telecom sector has an enormous opportunity to positively impact children’s lives while at the same time developing business and product offerings that recognizes the fresh perspectives that surface when children’s perspectives are valued.”

According to our additional research and conversations with  companies, the opportunities inherent in integrating children’s rights point towards increased brand value, stronger reputational claims, increased legitimacy across operations globally and contributing to a more sustainable world.

Nina Vollmer, Research Manager, Global Child Forum, commented:

Leading the Tech and Telecommunications sector with top overall scores are Vodafone (9.3), Telenor (9.2), Deutsche Telecom (9.1).

Moira Thompson Oliver, Sr. Human Rights Manager, Vodafone Group, commented

“We’re proud to be recognized as a children’s rights leader in Global Child Forum’s benchmark. We are committed to building a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable digital society and have been working to strengthen children’s rights across the business by contributing to the wellbeing of families through our global parental leave policy, understanding the potential impact on children across the marketplace and designing products and services that support inclusion for all, like our# ConnectedEducation programme.”

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Top three companies by industry:

• Electronics: Samsung (9.0), LG Electronics (8.8), Compal Electronics (8.6)
• Telecommunications: Vodafone  (9.3), Telenor (9.2), Deutsche Telekom (9.1)
• IT Services and Software: Amazon (7.3), Adobe (7.39), SAP (7.2)

For further information, please contact:

Linda Ravin Lodding,
Head of Communications
Global Child Forum
Linda.lodding@globalchildforum.org
+ 46 72 387 0248

Note to Editors

The benchmark report is based on assessing the publicly available information of 252 of the world’s largest Technology and Telecommunications companies, systematically assessing a corporate’s response to impacts on children’s rights.  This benchmark study is comprised of three industries: Electronics, Telecommunications and IT Services and Software.  The data found is then compiled against 27 indicators based on the 10 Children’s Rights and Business Principles and finally integrated into three different relevant business areas: Workplace, Marketplace and Community and Environment—before being given a weighted overall score. Companies receive a score out of 10 and are categorized as either Leaders, Achievers, Improvers or Beginners.

Scores are not a  measure of actual company compliance with policies, outcomes of policies and/or programs. Final scorecards were made available to all companies for fact checking purposes, but not all companies have acknowledged this review process.

See more about our methodology here.