ECPAT International is organising a side-session “Stepping up the fight against the worst forms of child labour in Asia-Pacific in the digital area” leading to the UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia and the Pacific. The UN Forum is organised by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, ILO, UNDP, IOM, UNICEF and other partners.
Date of the side-session: 31 May (Monday)
Time: 10.00-11.30 hrs of Bangkok time
Registration: https://rbhrforum2021.worksup.com
The session is organised as a call for action to stop children in Asia-Pacific region from falling victims to trafficking and all forms of sexual exploitation. It will reflect upon progress made in implementing the UNGPs, and discuss urgently needed responses from governments and business to address the worst forms of child labour in the aggravated context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although more and more businesses in the region refer to the UNGP and CRBP, children’s rights still need to be equally prioritised in human rights frameworks. During the pandemic, child sex offenders have increasingly transitioned their offending to an online environment, and are likely to follow it up with hands-on abuse when travel restrictions ease. Considering that the vulnerabilities of children have been exacerbated, and offenders keep adapting their modus operandi, governments, businesses and civil society organisations need to strengthen collaboration during the post-COVID-19 recovery, with a focus on responsible and sustainable business and standards.
