Assessing child rights impacts in relation to the digital environment

About Child Rights Impact Assessments (CRIAs) 

The rapidly evolving digital landscape is changing the nature and severity of child rights risks relating to digital business activities. In this context, it is more critical than ever for companies to identify, prevent and mitigate the child rights-related risks of their activities.  

Child rights impact assessments (CRIAs) are a critical tool in this process. A CRIA is a process by which companies evaluate the impact of business operations and products or services on children’s rights as defined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights and child rights instruments. 

The D-CRIA Toolbox 

The D-CRIA Toolbox guides businesses on conducting robust child rights impact assessments in relation to the digital environment. It is intended for use by all companies that are developing, deploying or using digital technologies including Artificial Intelligence. The D-CRIA Toolbox consists of six elements outlined below.  

• D-CRIA Tool – Excel-based tool containing core references; impact assessment fill-in steps; and automatic outputs.
• Guidance for Assessors – Essential background for assessment teams and step-by-step instructions on how to interpret and complete the D-CRIA Tool. 

Supplementary Resources 

• Quick Start Guide – Not sure where to begin? Refer to this Quick Start Guide for a rapid overview of what a D-CRIA process consists of.
• Spotlight Guidance – Best practices for stakeholder engagement with children in D-CRIAs.
• Orientation Deck – Slides that may be used to make the case for conducting a D-CRIA or build understanding of the methodology among different teams.
• FAQs – Answers to key questions on implementing the D-CRIA Toolbox. 

Mobile Sector Guidance 

The D-CRIA Toolbox builds on a foundation of guidance developed for the mobile sector between 2016 and 2021. The second edition of the  Child Rights Impact Self-Assessment Tool for Mobile Operators (MO-CRIA, 2021) offers an easy-to-use framework for mobile operators to more fully understand the challenges, opportunities, and child rights impacts related to their industry and operations – both offline and online.  

Mobile operators seeking to embark on a comprehensive impact assessment of child rights in relation to the digital environment should refer to the D-CRIA Toolbox (2025).