Corporate Social Responsibility is one strategic way to transform and benefit society, especially childrenForum on Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development and Children’s Rights in Bolivia La Paz, 5th June 2008 .– Yesterday, representatives from public and private institutions participated in the Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (BSR), Sustainable Development and Children’s Rights in Bolivia, which was jointly organised by the Vice-ministry of Medium and Large Enterprise and Industry, the Bolivian Social Responsibility Corporation (COBORSE) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The forum focussed on the need for BSR projects and programmes to seek mutual coordination and to be in line with national public policies. Gordon Jonathan Lewis, UNICEF Representative, gave the keynote speech, talking about the current conditions for children and adolescents in Bolivia, as well as the challenges that the government and Bolivian society face in terms of reaching the Millennium Development Goals. The first presentation of the Forum was given by Dr. Mario Molina Guzmán, Director General of the Large-Scale Production for Productive Development Division of the Vice-ministry of Medium and Large Industry, under the Ministry of Production and Micro-enterprise. Dr. Molina highlighted the Bolivian government’s commitment to building indicators on social and environmental responsibility, which are needed in the National Development Plan and in the draft State Constitution. He also stated that dignified work for all Bolivians is the best tool for combating poverty and child labour. Andrés Franco, Regional Manager of the Private Sector Division of UNICEF’s Regional Office in Panama, gave the second speech. Franco stressed that every processes carried out by every organisation have three types of impact: economic, environmental and social. “Social impacts on children deserve special attention, and children’s rights should be at the heart of corporate commitment; we must work on inequalities and disparities where they exist (not only where there is corporate presence). We must also promote alliances between the public and private sectors in order to strengthen institutional viability, and to avoid competing with or replacing public institutions.” He also made several recommendations on the roads business should take in order to include pro-child BSR in their activities, and how UNICEF can provide support in these processes.
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