Launch event: Children’s Rights and Finance

The financial industry in Switzerland and Liechtenstein plays a key role in the global economy. In Switzerland, the financial sector contributes 9% to GDP   and approximately 218,000 full-time equivalents are employed. In Liechtenstein, its contribution to GDP is even over 21%, and 11% of all jobs are in the financial sector. Yet, to date it has not been explored how the decisions of these key players - banks, wealth and asset managers, and insurance companies - can affect the lives and rights of children worldwide.

During this webinar we will launch a newly released study that assesses the awareness and actions of banks, wealth and asset managers as well as insurance companies from Switzerland and Liechtenstein regarding how their products and services may impact children’s rights, positively and negatively. It identifies key levers that the financial sector should use to influence economic activities that contribute to the fulfillment of children’s rights and provides concrete recommendations for action. The study assesses these types of financial entities collectively and does not produce any kind of rating of individual institutions. 

This study conducted by ECOFACT was commissioned by and realized under the guidance of UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein and the UN Global Compact   Network Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Various stakeholder perspectives from the financial sector, public administration and other NGOs were included with the aim of being able to formulate practical and realistic recommendations for financial institutions and other key stakeholders.

Agenda

• Welcome address | Bettina Junker, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein

• Presentation of the study | Bruno Bischoff, Ecofact

• Recommendations | Linda Deflorin-Karrer, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Moderation: Alice Harbach-Forel, UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein

Target group

Representatives from the finance industry (banks, wealth and asset managers, and insurance companies) in charge of sustainability/ESG, human rights, children’s rights and other relevant stakeholders such as ESG research companies, ESG data providers and ESG reporting standard setters, regulators and policy makers.

Participation

This webinar is free and open to all interested parties.