General Comment No. 16 of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child outlines state obligations concerning the impact of the business sector on children’s rights. Given that Child Rights and Business (CRB) is still a relatively new concept in Malawi, the NGO Coalition on Child Rights organized an orientation session for key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Following the orientation, stakeholders agreed on the need to develop a National Action Plan on Child Rights and Business, which will serve as a strategic tool for the state in fulfilling its obligations under international human rights instruments.
In recognition of the growing influence of the private sector on children’s rights, a government structure known as the Sub-Technical Working Group on Child Rights and Business was established. This group comprises various stakeholders and is tasked with coordinating all matters related to Child Rights and Business. It will report to the broader Child Affairs Technical Working Group, which oversees coordination of child rights issues nationally
The orientation brought together representatives including; Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Trade and Industry, National Children’s Commission and Malawi Human Rights Commission