Telecoms giant teams with Unicef to champion online safety

Millicom and Unicef have agreed to a three-year alliance to improve respect for children’s rights in the telecommunications sector.

The telecoms giant and the international children's charity plan to create standards for good practice in the telecommunication sector that protect children online and respect their right to privacy, freedom of thought, opinion, culture and safety. 

The alliance will develop and promote industry-specific guidance on how the telecommunication sector can improve respect for children’s rights, specifically through implementing the Children’s Rights and Business Principles.

The two organisations have been in discussions since 2012, when Millicom provided feedback on Unicef’s Children’s Rights and Business Principles tools for implementation. Millicom then piloted Unicef’s Children’s Rights Checklist at its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Millicom’s executive vp of Strategic Operations and Partnerships, Rachel Samrén commented: “Companies have many strategic and direct ways to influence children’s lives positively, beyond charity work or fighting child labour. At Millicom, we always ‘demand more’ and so we are proud to be at the forefront of putting into action the great work with UNICEF that takes a wider perspective on business responsibility and children.”

"Unicef is committed to working with business to identify the shared value that can be created when improving child rights within each industry,” added Gérard Bocquenet, Unicef's director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships. “We are proud to join Millicom in identifying how children can be better protected online in this growing virtual world. It is truly an important issue that is increasingly relevant to children everywhere."