Taotlus

E-kiri.eml

Lugupeetud!

Olen standardimiskoordinaator Triin Pukk ja kirjutan Teile Eesti Standardimis-ja Akrediteerimiskeskusest.

Oleme kaardistamas Eesti huvigruppide (riigi, ettevõtjate, tarbijate ning haridus- ja teadusasutuste) seisukohti standardimiskomitee moodustamise vajalikkuse kohta ja selgitamas selles osalemise huvi.

Islandi standardimisorganisatsioon on teinud ettepaneku asutada uus ISO komitee „Laste õiguste juhtimine“ (Children´s rights management).

Ettepaneku eesmärk on luua uus ISO tehniline komitee, et toetada laste õiguste järjepidevat ja mõõdetavat rakendamist, nagu on sätestatud ÜRO lapse õiguste konventsioonis (UNCRC) ja sellega seotud raamistikes.

Paljudes riikides on selgete tegevusraamistike puudumine tähendanud, et konventsiooni järgimist peetakse vabatahtlikuks või sümboolseks.

Tehniline komitee toimiks ülemaailmse platvormina rahvusvaheliste standardite väljatöötamiseks, mis aitavad valitsustel, ettevõtetel, vabaühendustel ja avalik-õiguslikel asutustel integreerida laste õigused oma juhtimisse, tegevusse, poliitikasse ja teenustesse.

Uue tehnilise komitee standardimise valdkonnad hõlmaksid järgmist:

Lapse kaasamine
Lapsesõbralik õigusemõistmine
Laste abiliini juhised
Laste õigused digitaalses keskkonnas
Lapse parimad huvid
IWA (International Workshop Agreement) 49:2025 „Lapsesõbralikud multidistsiplinaarsed ja asutustevahelised reageerimisteenused lastele, kes on vägivalla ohvrid – nõuded ja soovitused“ – muutmine rahvusvaheliseks standardiks
Saatjata ja pagulaslapsed
Lastekaitse nõuded
Teenusenõuded erakorralise või ülemineku hoolduseasutustele
Terminoloogia

Rohkem infot loodava komitee kohta leiate manusesse lisatud failist.

Oleme huvitatud Teie arvamusest ja ootame ettepanekuid järgmistes küsimustes:

Kas komitee loomine on Teie hinnangul põhjendatud ja vajalik?
Kas käsitlusala ja teemade valik on sobiv ja piisav ning kas Teil on selles osas muutmisettepanekuid?
Kas olete huvitatud komitee asutamise korral selles osalema ja mil määral?
Kas Teie hinnangul on veel huvipooli, kellele tuleks teave uue komitee asutamisettepanekust edastada?

Eestil on läbi EVS-i tehnilise komitee võimalik osaleda uute standardite koostamises. Kui valmisolekut aktiivselt töörühmades osalemiseks ei ole, siis annaks Eestis valdkonna eest vastutava komitee asutamine ning ISO komitee peegeldamine võimaluse olla muutuste ja arengutega aegsasti kursis ning standardite kavandeid enne jõustumist kommenteerida.

Antud valdkonnas tuleks moodustada uus EVS-i tehniline komitee, mis koondab teemast huvitatud pooled, kes ühiselt kujundavad Eesti seisukoha.

Huvi korral saab komiteede tööst lähemalt lugeda EVS-i kodulehelt.

Palun jagage seda infot oma liidu liikmetega, koostööpartnerite ja ekspertidega, keda algatus Teie arvates veel kõnetab.

Kui Teil on küsimusi või mõtteid valdkonna standardimise kohta Eestis, siis võtke palun minuga julgesti ühendust.

Palun Teie arvamust hiljemalt 12. detsembriks 2025.

Parimat soovides,

Triin Pukk
Standardimiskoordinaator | Coordinator of standardisation
Eesti Standardimis- ja Akrediteerimiskeskus | Estonian Centre for Standardisation and Accreditation
+372 53 006 408 | [email protected] | www.evs.ee

Form_01_Proposal_for_a_new_field_of_technical_activity_Rights_of_the_Child_-FINAL.pdf

ISO FORM 1 ISO TS/P XXX

PROPOSAL FOR A NEW FIELD OF TECHNICAL ACTIVITY

PROPOSER: DATE OF CIRCULATION:

Icelandic Standards Urdarhvarf 8b 203 Kopavogur Iceland

Click or tap to enter a date.

CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:

Click or tap to enter a date.

A proposal for a new field of technical activity shall be submitted to the Office of the CEO (to [email protected]), which will process the proposal in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Clause 1.5.

Furthermore, a proposal will be considered as complete if every information field is complete and follows the guidelines for proposing and justifying a new field of activity given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Annex C.

TITLE

(Please see the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Annex C, Clause C.4.2)

Children´s rights management

SCOPE

(Please see the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Annex C, Clause C.4.3)

Standardization in the field of children’s rights, to support the implementation of protection rights, provision rights, and participation rights. Note 1: this TC works to support existing international frameworks, in particular the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Note 2: Where appropriate, this TC will work in cooperation with existing ISO committees on subjects that may support children’s rights.

PURPOSE AND JUSTIFICATION (Please use the field immediately below or attach an annex.) (Please see the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Annex C, Clause C.4.13) Establishing a global platform for children’s rights implementation This proposal seeks to establish a new ISO technical committee (TC) to support the consistent, measurable implementation of children’s rights, as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and related frameworks. The UNCRC, adopted in 1989 and ratified by 196 countries, enshrines children’s civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. However, despite its universality, implementation remains inconsistent, fragmented, and in many cases insufficient – especially when it comes to children’s participation, safeguarding, and protection in institutional and digital environments. This TC would serve as a global platform for developing international standards that help governments, businesses, NGOs, and public institutions embed children’s rights into their governance, operations, policies, and services. It would fill a long-standing gap by offering practical tools for implementing and monitoring compliance with the Convention in a coherent, measurable, and auditable way. There is a dynamic link between international standards and compliance processes, and research indicates that state compliance primarily occurs within the domestic environment (Gray, 2022). Therefore, through its members, ISO standards developed by this TC can play a key role in supporting international monitoring and national-level compliance.

In many countries, the absence of clear operational frameworks has meant that compliance with the Convention is perceived as voluntary or symbolic. A recent report from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (2025) highlights that gaps in child protection systems continue to place children at risk. Fragmented laws and policies, split responsibilities, and limited resources all impede the creation of fully integrated systems that can safeguard children’s rights. A UK study on human rights treaties has similarly identified three major barriers to compliance: perceived incentives, political will, and implementation capacity (Gray, 2022). In such contexts, the creation of ISO standards can increase clarity and accountability, helping to break down these barriers and support effective implementation.

A human development imperative

Children’s rights are not only a legal or ethical imperative – they are a human development priority.

The World Health Organization revealed in 2022 that it is estimated globally that up to 1 billion children aged 2-17 years have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence or neglect in the previous year. Six types of violence are most common amongst children: maltreatment (incl. violent punishment), bullying (incl. cyber bullying), youth violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence and emotional or psychological violence.

UNICEF revealed in 2024 that every four minutes, somewhere in the world, a child is killed by an act of violence. Nearly 50 million adolescent girls, aged 15-19 (1 of 6) have been victims of physical or sexual violence by their husbands and partners in the past year. Close to 550 million children (1 in 4) live with mothers who are victims of intimate partner violence.

Violence against children has lifelong impacts on health and well-being and has serious consequences on many levels; individual, community and society levels along with close-relationship level.

The scale of harm is devastating and underscore the need for standardized cross-sectoral approaches to child protection and participation.

Child participation as a foundational challenge A second critical area in need of practical tools and guidance is child participation. Article 12 of the UNCRC establishes the right of every child to express their views freely in all matters affecting them, and for those views to be given due weight. Yet despite this being a foundational principle of the Convention, its implementation remains sporadic and symbolic in many contexts. A 2021 study by the European Commission found that child participation is still “not perceived and implemented as an integral and fundamental part of policy-/decision-making processes,” often treated as a one-off consultation rather than a sustained, embedded practice. Many organizations – public and private – recognize the importance of involving children in decisions but lack clear guidance on how to do so ethically, safely, and effectively. Standards developed by this TC could offer a common framework for organizations to ensure meaningful, inclusive, and rights-based participation of children in policy design, service delivery, and accountability processes. Digital environments and AI: a fast-growing frontier Another area of growing concern is children’s rights in digital environments. With children constituting one-third of all internet users, the UN Global Digital Compact has emphasized the urgent need for a human-centric and child-safe digital ecosystem. It calls for digital products, platforms, and policies – including those powered by artificial intelligence – to be designed with children’s best interests in mind. Yet, clear operational guidance and thinking in ISO’s standards remain lacking. Working in collaboration with other committees and external partners, this TC could help fill that gap by developing requirements and guidance on children’s digital participation, safety, data privacy, content regulation, and the responsible use of AI – complementing initiatives such as the Global Digital Compact, the ITU’s child online protection guidelines, and UNICEF’s child online safety frameworks.

Building on momentum from the launch of IWA 49

Recent ISO experience demonstrates both the feasibility and value of this work. The IWA 49 process on child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response services for children who are victims of violence brought together more than 20 countries and key stakeholders, including UNICEF, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Council of Europe, Eurojust, Europol, and survivor networks such as the BRAVE Movement. Child participation was included directly in the process – a first for ISO – and the initiative demonstrated strong stakeholder buy-in and clear demand for further standardization in this field.

The resulting IWA 49 document was officially launched in March 2025 during the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council – a milestone that underscored the growing alignment between international standardization and human rights agendas. At the launch, UNICEF stated:

“For UNICEF, there are three major takeaways. First, it's great to see ISO stepping into child rights and international standards. It's the first time ISO has done so, and we think there's a real future ahead for that. Second, it creates an opportunity for organizations like UNICEF and others to take international standards and try to really apply them with governments and really

advance them. And third—and perhaps most important—it creates the opportunity for partnership in a way we didn’t see as clearly before, between ISO, UNICEF, the Council of Europe, the Special Representative on Violence Against Children. So really capitalizing on this moment and supporting Member States to implement these guidelines.”

Working in partnership – not in duplication

Strengthening collaboration with these key actors will be a core priority of the new TC. While much excellent work is already being done by the UN system, regional human rights bodies, and civil society, ISO can help support and amplify global efforts. By translating principles, frameworks, and legislation into measurable, auditable tools, ISO can help multiply the reach and effectiveness of existing child rights initiatives and the organizations that lead them.

Impact for industry and beyond

The benefits of ISO standards extend beyond governments. Millions of private-sector organizations around the world already use ISO standards in areas such as quality management, information security, governance, and risk. By developing standards that align with and integrate into these systems, this TC can help organizations embed children’s rights into their operations in tangible and meaningful ways. The result: more consistent, credible, and accountable child rights practices across all sectors.

Conclusion: a timely and vital opportunity

By taking leadership in this space, ISO has the opportunity to support one of the most urgent and universal challenges of our time: ensuring the rights, safety, and well-being of children. This work will not only assist States in meeting their obligations under the UNCRC, but also equip businesses, public institutions, and civil society with practical tools to uphold children’s rights in a systematic and verifiable manner. The standards developed by this TC could serve as standalone tools—or as integrated components within broader management systems—enabling wide uptake and long-term impact.

In short, the time is right. The mandate is clear. The opportunity is unique. ISO can be a global leader in advancing children’s rights—not only by raising awareness, but by providing the world with the tools to turn principles into practice, and to make children’s lives easier, safer, and better.

PROPOSED INITIAL PROGRAMME OF WORK (Please use the field immediately below or attach an annex)

Please see the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Annex C.4.4 and C-4.5)

For each item, the initial work programme shall define the deliverable type and target dates. The initial work programme shall also assign priorities to the different items.

The proposed work programme of the new technical committee would consist of a coherent series of standards to strengthen the systems, safeguards, and services needed to ensure that children are protected, empowered, and able to thrive in all environments. These standards would provide practical tools for organizations to uphold children’s rights in accordance with international human rights frameworks and national obligations.

Areas of interest include: Child participation A standard to support ethical, meaningful, and safe participation of children in decision-making processes, aligned with Article 12 of the UNCRC, General Comment No. 12 from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the UN Pact for the future. A 2021 European Commission study found that child participation is “still not perceived and implemented as an integral and fundamental part of policy-/decision-making processes,” and is often treated as an “add-on” rather than embedded practice. A standard could offer organizations concrete, rights-based methods to engage with children appropriately across different contexts. Child-friendly justice Including standards for services for children in contact with the justice system, whether as victims, witnesses, or children in conflict with the law. This would align with ongoing work by regional and international human rights bodies including guidelines from the Council of Europe on child-friendly Justice. Child helpline guidelines A standard to define minimum requirements for telephone and internet-based helplines that provide advice, support, and safeguarding services for children. This standard could explicitly support the implementation of obligations under the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote Convention, which requires States to establish telephone or internet-based helplines to provide advice and support to children and the Child Helpline Network that is operated in cooperation of more than 130 countries to support that initiative. The standard could also serve as a framework for child safeguarding protocols in both digital and non-digital service environments, supporting consistency, confidentiality, and accessibility across Member States and service providers. Children’s rights in digital environments Development of standards aligned with the Global Digital Compact, including age-appropriate design, privacy and data protection, online safety, consent mechanisms, and ethical AI. These would support child protection and participation in online spaces and digital service delivery and implementation of UN CRC General Comment #25. Child’s best interests A standard on child rights impact assessment guides decision-making in institutions and services based on the principle of the child’s best interests serves as a tool for organizations to assess how their policies, services, or operations may positively or negatively affect children’s rights. These would support the implementation of UN CRC General Comment #12, 13 and 14 IWA 49:2025 Child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response services for children who are victims of violence – Requirements and recommendations – transformation into an International Standard Building on the momentum and stakeholder support from IWA 49, this item would formalize the guidance for multidisciplinary and interagency services for child victims of violence as a full ISO standard. Unaccompanied and refugee children Guidance for services and systems supporting unaccompanied children in migration, asylum, and displacement contexts, emphasizing protection, case management, and participation.

Child protection requirements A cross-sectoral framework for organizations to establish, implement, and monitor child safeguarding policies, especially in institutional and service-based environments. Service requirements for emergency or transitional care settings Development of minimum requirements for temporary care homes and shelters serving children in crisis, displacement, or at-risk situations. Terminology A foundational vocabulary standard that defines key concepts across all areas of children’s rights implementation. Each deliverable would be developed in consultation with relevant experts, stakeholders, and organizations already active in these domains. The aim is to complement and support existing international efforts – not to replace or duplicate them – by offering technical standards that are accessible, scalable, and adaptable to different legal and cultural contexts. As of now, some of the stakeholders have indicated their priority when it comes to New Work Items but a consensus on the priority has not been established. Therefore, the balloting time will be used to engage with stakeholders to establish priorities.

RELATION OF THE PROPOSAL TO EXISTING INERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND ON-GOING

STANDARDIZATION WORK

☒ The proposer has checked whether the proposed scope of the new committee overlaps with the scope of

any existing ISO or IEC committee or JTC1 sub-committee

☐ If an overlap or the potential for overlap is identified, the affected committee has been informed, and an

agreement has been reached between proposer and committee on i. modification/restriction of the scope of the proposal to avoid overlapping, ii. potential modification/restriction of the scope of the existing committee to avoid overlapping.

☐ If agreement with the existing committee has not been reached, please explain why the proposal should

be approved.

No direct overlap has been identified with the scopes of existing ISO or IEC committees or JTC1 subcommittees. However, several existing committees address themes relevant to children's rights, and there are multiple opportunities for collaboration and cross -referencing. The proposed TC would complement their work by providing standards focused specifically on the implementation of children’s rights.

Relevant ISO committees include: • ISO/TC 176 (Quality management and quality assurance): where child rights

considerations could be integrated into organizational processes and stakeholder engagement.

• ISO/TC 309 (Governance of organizations): which could benefit from child -specific governance guidance, including safeguarding, transparency, and accountability.

• ISO/TC 304 (Healthcare organization management): where standards on child -friendly and trauma-informed healthcare environments would be relevant.

• ISO/TC 312 (Excellence in service): offering a touchpoint for standards on child -friendly services and accessibility.

• ISO/PC 343 (Framework for integrating the SDGs into management systems): where children’s rights could be considered a cross-cutting priority within SDG-aligned governance and strategy.

• ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42 (Artificial intelligence): with growing concerns about the impacts of AI on children’s rights, including data privacy, bias, and autonomy.

• ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27 (Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection): particularly in relation to child data protection and online safety.

• ISO/PC 337 (Guidelines for the promotion and implementation of gender equality): which may intersect with gendered aspects of child rights and participation.

• ISO/PC 250 (Sustainable events): whose work on ISO 20121:2024 includes an informative annex (Annex D) addressing human and child rights in the context of event sustainability. The proposer notes the TMB decision at its March 2025 meeting to in principle establish a new Technical Committee on Events – Sustainability Management and Other Aspects, subject to approval through the ISO Members’ consultation .

Additionally, ISO 26000 (Guidance on social responsibility) explicitly references children’s rights, but lacks detailed operational guidance or sector-specific tools for implementation.

The proposed TC would work in close coordination with these committees where relevant, to ensure alignment and avoid duplication. Where appropriate, the proposer will initiate discussions with the chairs or secretariats of relevant TCs and PCs to explore c ollaboration, including potential liaisons or joint working groups.

----------------------

This new TC will provide a dedicated space within the ISO system to develop practical, consensus-based standards to support the implementation of children’s rights. It will complement broader frameworks by addressing child-specific considerations – such as participation, safeguarding, development, digital safety, and trauma -informed services – which are often not addressed in detail elsewhere. The TC would contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) • SDG 4 (Quality education) • SDG 5 (Gender equality) • SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth) • SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) • SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) • SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

It is important to note that children’s rights are based on a binding international convention – the UNCRC – which will remain in force long after the current SDG framework concludes. As such, the need for enduring, scalable solutions to support the operationalization of children’s rights will remain. Given that children often lack the means to advocate for themselves, the creation of a dedicated TC within ISO represents a vital step toward ensuring these rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled in a structured, accountable way.

☐ Have proposals on this subject been submitted into an existing committee and rejected? If so, what were

the reasons for rejection?

Not applicable.

LISTING OF RELEVANT DOCUMENTS (SUCH AS STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS) AT

INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL

(Please see the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Annex C, Clause C.4.6)

The following key documents and frameworks have informed the development of this proposal and underscore the relevance of standardization in the field of children’s rights:

• 1. International frameworks • United Nations. 1989. Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). • United Nations. Sustainable Development Goals (particularly Goals 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16,

and 17). • United Nations. 2023. Secretary-General’s Guidance Note on Child Rights

Mainstreaming. • United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2023. Concept

Note: General Comment on Children’s Rights to Access to Justice and Effective Remedies. Link

• Committee on the Rights of the Child. 2009. General Comment No. 12 (2009) on the rights of the child to be heard. Link

• Committee on the Rights of the Child- General Comment No. 13 (2011) on the rights of the child to freedom from all forms of violence. Link

• Committee on the Rights of the Child- General Comment No. 14 (2013) on the rights of the child to have his or her best interests taken as a primary consideration. Link

• Committee on the Rights of the Child- General Comment No. 25 (2021) on children’s rights in the digital environment. Link

• The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, also known as “the Lanzarote Convention.” Link

• 2. Regional organizations’ guidelines • Council of Europe. 2010. Guidelines of the Committee of Ministers on Child-friendly

Justice. Link

• European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. 2025. Towards Integrated Child Protection Systems – Challenges, Promising Practices and Ways Forward . Link

• 3. Reports, research and guidance tools • Borhan, H. & Gottschalk, F. 2023. Child Participation in Decision Making: Implications

for Education and Beyond. OECD. Link

• OECD. 2023. Child-Friendly Justice Framework: Building a People-centred Justice System. Link

• European Commission. 2021. Study on Child Participation in EU Political and Democratic Life. Link

• WHO. 2022. Violence against Children: Key Facts. Link

• Gray, S. 2022. The Domestic Compliance System and Compliance Barriers: A UK Child Rights Case Study. Link

• CRIN. 2012. Child-friendly Justice and Children’s Rights Toolkit. Link

• UNICEF. 2011. A Handbook on Child Participation in Parliament. Link

• UNICEF. 2024. FAST FACTS: Violence against children widespread, affecting millions globally. Link

• 4. Relevant ISO and ISO-related deliverables • IWA 49:2025 – Child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response services for

children who are victims of violence — Requirements and recommendations • ISO 20121:2024 – Event Sustainability Management Systems, Annex D (Informative):

Human and child rights in event sustainability . • ISO 26000: 2010 – Guidance on Social Responsibility. • ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42. Ongoing work on AI and its impact on children, especially around

transparency, safety, and ethics.

LISTING OF RELEVANT COUNTRIES WHERE THE SUBJECT OF THE PROPOSAL IS IMPORTANT TO THEIR NATIONAL COMMERCIAL INTERESTS

(Please see the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Annex C, Clause C.4.8)

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has been ratified by 196 countries, making children’s rights a globally recognized legal obligation. While the primary motivation for this proposal is the advancement of human rights, there are clear and growing national commercial interests in the development and implementation of standards that support children’s rights – particularly in sectors such as:

• Digital technologies and platforms (data protection, age-appropriate design, AI and algorithmic transparency)

• Healthcare and child services (trauma-informed care, child-centred service models) • Education (safe learning environments, inclusive governance, rights -respecting

curricula)

• Certification and training (safeguarding audits, child protection training, compliance assessment)

• Tourism, events, and entertainment (child-friendly standards in services and spaces)

Countries with advanced child protection frameworks – such as those in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Japan, and the Nordic countries – have already seen growing demand for structured implementation tools, certification schemes, and commercial services that embed child rights principles. In parallel, countries with developing child protection systems or expanding digital and education sectors – such as India, Brazil, Kenya, Indonesia, Thailand, and the UAE – stand to benefit from harmonized international guidance that supports responsible growth, service delivery, and regulatory alignment.

Moreover, NGOs, civil society organizations, and public institutions in many countries are increasingly seeking practical tools to support compliance with the UNCRC and SDG targets. Standards developed under this TC would support both public interest and c ommercial service providers, creating new markets for training, assurance, product design, and rights - based governance.

While children’s rights are a universal concern, the development of ISO standards in this space also supports a growing ecosystem of service providers, technology developers, training organizations, and regulators, contributing to economic activity and inte rnational cooperation across all regions.

LISTING OF RELEVANT EXTERNAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OR INTERNAL PARTIES (OTHER THAN ISO AND/OR IEC COMMITTEES) TO BE ENGAGED AS LIASONS IN THIS WORK (Please see the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Clause C.4.9)

The proposed TC will seek liaison with a range of international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), that play a significant role in the protection and promotion of children’s rights. These organizations bring criti cal expertise, legitimacy, and implementation networks. Cooperation will help ensure that ISO standards complement — rather than duplicate—existing frameworks, and support harmonized, high-impact outcomes. Proposed liaisons include: UN bodies and international organizations

• UNICEF – A global leader in child rights and protection, including policy, program delivery, and technical guidance.

• Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – The UN treaty body responsible for monitoring the implementation of the UNCRC.

• Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children – Coordinates cross-sectoral action to end violence against children.

• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) – Supports the UN human rights framework and country implementation.

• World Health Organization (WHO) – Technical guidance on child health, mental health, and violence prevention.

• International Labour Organization (ILO) – Lead agency on eliminating child labour and promoting children’s rights in employment contexts.

• INTERPOL, International Criminal Police Organization by connecting police in 196 member countries through a secure network

Regional and intergovernmental organizations

• Council of Europe – Notably through its work on the Lanzarote Convention and child- friendly justice.

• European Union – A key actor in shaping regional frameworks and investments in children’s rights.

• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – Research and policy frameworks, including child-friendly justice and education.

• African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) – Regional treaty monitoring body under the African Union.

Civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) • Save the Children – Global advocacy and service delivery in education, health, and

protection. • Child Rights Connect – A Geneva-based network that engages with the UN system to

strengthen accountability. • World Vision International – Rights-based development and humanitarian programming

for children. • Plan International – Focused on child protection, girls' rights, and youth empowerment. • The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – Operates in conflict zones

and emergencies with a strong child protection mandate. • Human Rights Watch – Children’s Rights Division – Advocacy and documentation of child

rights violations globally. These organizations are anticipated to contribute valuable perspectives, data, field insights, and validation of standards during development and review. Engagement will also support alignment with international legal instruments, best practices, and evidence-based approaches. Note: These organizations will be invited to participate as Category A liaisons, depending on ISO engagement criteria.

IDENTIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF RELEVANT AFFECTED STAKEHOLDER CATEGORIES

(Please see ISO Connect)

Benefits/Impacts/Examples

Industry and commerce – large industry Large multinational companies are increasingly expected to demonstrate alignment with social and sustainable frameworks. The proposed standards will support corporate due diligence, risk management, and ethical governance, particularly in sectors such as technology, education, and healthcare.

For example, technology and digital service providers – including platforms using AI – could gain tools to operationalize age-appropriate design, privacy-by-default, and content regulation.

Industry and commerce – SMEs Smaller enterprises often lack resources to develop internal children’s rights policies but would benefit from scalable, accessible standards.

Government Public institutions involved in education, child protection, or social services would use the standard to improve consistency and accountability.

Consumers Parents, caregivers, and young people increasingly demand transparency and ethical practices concerning children's rights.

Labour Click or tap here to enter text.

Academic and research bodies Provide evidence-based support and analysis for standard development and application.

Standards application businesses Consultants and certification bodies may integrate these standards into their offerings.

Non-governmental organizations Key stakeholders for advocacy, monitoring, and implementing children’s rights on the ground.

Other (please specify) Children and survivors Children themselves – as rights-holders – should be consulted through ethical, age-appropriate participation mechanisms, in line with best practices and General Comment No. 12 of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. This includes ensuring that children’s views are sought, heard, and acted upon in decisions that affect them.

In addition, survivors of violence, exploitation, or neglect – including, where possible and appropriate, child survivors – bring essential lived experience and expertise. Their participation in standard development should be facilitated through trauma-informed and survivor- centred approaches, with appropriate safeguards and support. Their voices are critical to ensuring that standards are grounded in real- world experiences and meet the needs of those most affected.

EXPRESSION OF LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT FROM THE PROPOSER

(Please see the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Annex C, Clause C.4.12)

IST is fully committed to leading and supporting the establishment of this new TC and, if necessary, to holding the Secretariat. However, given IST’s limited experience in this role, never having held a Secretariat before, should the TC be approved SIS and IST will split responsibility and will consider signing a twinning arrangement where SIS would then serve as the lead partner and help IST to build capacity.

SIS stands behind the proposal in full and has taken part in the preparation of the proposal. SIS is prepared to take a leading role in the new committee if it is formed .

IST recognises the importance of engaging developing countries in leadership roles within the TC and will actively seek to involve them, particularly in the convenorship of working groups, and in future TC leadership roles.

The proposer also commits to fostering inclusive participation throughout the TC’s lifecycle, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders—especially those representing children and survivors – have a meaningful voice in the standards development process.

During the development of IWA 49, a multi-stakeholder group was convened to ensure broad representation from the outset. The proposer will continue to facilitate coordination with relevant ISO committees and international stakeholders to support a coherent and high- impact standardization initiative.

☒ The proposer confirms that this proposal has been drafted in compliance with ISO/IEC directives,

part 1, annex c

SIGNATURE OF THE PROPOSER

Helga Sigrún Harðardóttir

framkvæmdastjóri/Managing Director, Icelandic Standards

Urðarhvarf 8b, 203 Kópavogi, Iceland

sími/tel: +(354) 520 7150

gsm/mobile: +(354) 899 9961

[email protected]

www.stadlar.is

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