The financial industry plays a key role in strengthening children’s rights. UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein shows how financial actors can take responsibility and effect positive change for children in the Market Report 2025 of Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen (FNG).
On June 24, 2025, FNG released its latest annual market report on sustainable investing. FNG is a professional association for sustainable investment in German-speaking areas and each year it analyzes industry developments and trends. This year’s report focuses primarily on social investment, and the topic of children’s rights and the financial sector is relevant in this context.
«Children’s rights are an integral element of social sustainability. The financial sector can and should play an active role in strengthening human rights standards, especially with regard to children and other vulnerable groups. It is our pleasure to address this important topic in this year’s Market Report.»
The study “Children’s Rights and Finance” (published by UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein and the UN Global Compact Network Switzerland & Liechtenstein and conducted by ECOFACT AG) illuminates how financial institutions can actively contribute to promoting and protecting children’s rights.
The study highlights the significant direct and indirect influence that banks, wealth and asset managers, and insurance companies wield in shaping the lives and futures of children through their lending, investment and underwriting activities. The study calls for a shift in moving away from a purely risk-based approach and toward the proactive integration of children’s rights in corporate strategies, governance and risk management.
The financial industry’s approach to children’s rights is often limited to child labor. The study shows that in product development, climate risk assessments and net-zero strategies, children must be given more consideration as a particularly vulnerable group.
The study includes ten specific recommendations ranging from integrating aspects of children’s rights in ESG strategies to active influence through stewardship and engagement. The aim is not just to minimize risk, but to make a positive contribution to the lives of children around the world.
Financial institutions can make children’s rights part of their corporate responsibility and thus create sustainable added value – for children, for society and for their own business activities.
The FNG Market Report 2025 with guest contribution from UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein can be found here.
The full study can be found here: Children’s Rights and Finance | unicef.ch