Children's rights organizations appeal to the federal government
Berlin, February 15, 2022 – The children's rights organizations Kindernothilfe, Plan International Germany, Save the Children, terre des hommes , UNICEF Germany, and World Vision, together with the Supply Chain Act Initiative, are calling on the German government to advocate for a robust and effective EU due diligence law for companies that respects children's rights during the EU legislative process. This call is prompted by the European Commission's draft legislation on sustainable business practices, expected at the end of February. Such an "EU Supply Chain Act" would obligate companies across the EU to fulfill their human rights due diligence obligations at all stages of production.
As part of the EU legislative process, the German government is being urged to advance the announced further development of the German supply chain law by means of an effective "EU supply chain law". The organizations demand that children's rights be given special consideration in this process
Children make up almost a third of the world's population, and in many countries of the Global South, more than half the population is under 18. Children are most affected by the negative impacts of corporate activities. Most violations of children's rights, such as child labor in mining or exposure to environmental toxins in agriculture or the textile industry, often occur at the beginning of global value and supply chains. Therefore, from the organizations' perspective, it is essential that companies be obligated to identify child rights risks not only among their direct business partners but throughout their entire value and supply chains, and to ensure effective remediation, prevention, and reparations where necessary.
This would make the EU supply chain law go beyond the German supply chain due diligence law and better meet its obligations regarding children's rights.