Managing child rights

As a global communications technology company, we recognise our operations could impact children. We conduct regular assessments to identify the most material risks to our business. Digital rights, including protecting child rights, is one of the most significant rights identified.

To understand more about how our operations impact children, we engaged an expert consultancy to support us in carrying out an assessment using UNICEF’s Child Rights Impact Self-Assessment Tool for Mobile Operators (MO-CRIA).

It reported on the following:

• How our operations impact the rights of the child, both opportunities and risk
• Where we can improve.
• How we perform against UNICEF’s baseline requirements and suggested further actions.

We continue to be guided by that external report. Our Human Rights Policy has been updated to Human Rights (including Child Rights), and amongst other matters considers the best interests of the child in the digital world, and child labour. In 2024, we reviewed our policy controls and will ensure that they consider the vulnerabilities of children as rights holders.

The rights of children are also addressed in other policies, such as our Code of Ethical Purchasing. This strictly prohibits child labour and requires that if child labour is identified, the best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration in remediation, including through the supplier both ensuring that child attends mandatory schooling and collaborating with governmental and non-governmental organisations to ensure the child's basic needs are met after the termination of employment.

This exercise is complemented by detailed impact assessments conducted in specific circumstances, such as the development of a new product or service.

Our policy

Our Child Protection Policy (now integrated in our Human Rights Policy) sets out how we seek to support our customers in navigating the evolving digital landscape through tools and education.

Our commitments to broader child rights are also embedded in group policies and processes, including Trust by Design, which ensures that human (including child rights) considerations are addressed in the development of products and services.