United Nations
CRC/C/GC/16
Distr.: General
Convention on the Rights of the Child
17 April 2013
Original: English
Committee on the Rights of the Child
General comment No. 16 (2013) on State obligations regarding the impact of the business sector
on children’s rights*
Contents
Paragraphs Page
I.Introduction and objectives1–73
II.Scope and application8–114
III.General principles of the Convention as they relate to business activities12–235
A.The right to non-discrimination (art. 2)13–145
B.The best interests of the child (art. 3, para. 1)15–176
C.The right to life, survival and development (art. 6)18–206
D.The right of the child to be heard (art. 12)21–237
IV.Nature and scope of State obligations 24–318
A.General obligations 24–258
B.The obligation to respect, protect and fulfil26–318
V.State obligations in specific contexts32–5210
A.Provision of services for the enjoyment of children’s rights 33–3410
B.The informal economy35–3711
C.Children’s rights and global operations of business38–4611
D.International organizations47–4814
E.Emergencies and conflict situations49–5214
VI.Framework for implementation 53–8415
A.Legislative, regulatory and enforcement measures53–6515
B.Remedial measures66–7218
C.Policy measures73–7419
D.Coordination and monitoring measures75–8120
E.Collaborative and awareness-raising measures82–8421
VII.Dissemination85–8622
I.Introduction and objectives
The Committee on the Rights of the Child recognizes that the business sector’s impact on children’s rights has grown in past decades
because of factors such as the globalized nature of economies and of business operations and the ongoing trends of decentralization,
and outsourcing and privatizing of State functions that affect the enjoyment of human rights. Business can be an essential driver for
societies and economies to advance in ways that strengthen the realization of children’s rights through, for example, technological
advances, investment and the generation of decent work. However, the realization of children’s rights is not an automatic
consequence of economic growth and business enterprises can also negatively impact children’s rights.