Managing risk and creating benefit through integration of Children Rights into Business Principles

As the world has become more complex with increased concerns about limited resources, growing social concerns on poverty and deteriorating social equality, it is imperative that we see sustainability as a key tool by which companies pay respect to human rights in order to thrive and grow in years ahead. Due to vulnerability of children, the protection and respect of their rights, as part of human rights, should be addressed by business sector as a priority. In Indonesia, children is one of main stakeholders of business, it is inevitable for businesses not to interact with or have an effect to the lives of children.

Among various aspects of business core operation, the human rights issues or in this case the children rights issues, remain a daunting problem. Not because the companies want to deliberately ignore, but often because the companies are not aware of the “do and don’t”.

On 11 June 2015, IBL and Save The Children conducted a CSR Learning Forum with a topic of integration Children Rights (CR) into business principles and operation. It was a sharing forum for IBL corporate partners to learn from each other about the integration of CR and its impact to the businesses. Special guest speakers from hospitality industry, Mr. Artwin Bunardi – General Manager of Gumilang Regency and Mr. Dodi Masyhud Junduddin – Director of Human Resources Hotel Holiday Inn Bandung, shared best practices on integration of CR into business related to (a) workplace, (b) marketplace, and (c) community and environment issues.

It was proved from their sharing that integrating CR into their businesses has been bringing positive impact. Responsible practices will improve the corporate image and reap greater public goodwill. Employees become more responsible and grow stronger sense of belonging towards the companies as they actively participate in sustainability activities and the related process tracking. Customers are more willing to pay and pay more for ethical products and services by trusted companies. Through sharing and discussion among participants, there’s conclusion of several success factors on the integration process: (a) Strong leadership, (b) Communicating positive impact to stakeholders, (c) Creating awareness, and (d) Measuring performance or impact.

*for further information about this event, please contact Mohamad Fahmi at fahmi@ibl.or.id or Wiwin Winarni at Wiwin.Winarni@savethechildren.org