A/HRC/43/30 Convention regarding the business sector’s impact on children’s rights.111 Multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Children’s Rights and Business Principles have focused on the specific implications of the business responsibility to respect human rights concerning children.112 71. According to the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, businesses should apply human rights due diligence to identify potential and actual human rights risks linked to their activities, take effective steps to prevent or mitigate such risks, ensure victims have effective access to complaints mechanisms and remedies, and monitor and report on efforts to prevent and mitigate rights’ violations. The Committee on the Rights of the Child stipulates that businesses should respect children’s rights throughout their operations, avoid impeding efforts to realize and advance children’s rights – directly or indirectly – and engage positively in realizing those rights.113 V. Good practices towards realizing children’s rights through a healthy environment 72. Some States, civil society organizations and other actors have already taken measures to realize children’s rights through a healthy environment. Several of the good practices highlighted in the submissions received have been included below (paras. 73– 103). Existing good practices should be used to inform and enhance national and intergovernmental action. International level 73. States parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury must address mercury emissions, phase out certain mercury-containing products, promote mercury-free gold processing methods and take special measures to protect vulnerable populations from exposure, including children and women of child-bearing age. 74. In 2019, a global initiative for advancing children’s right to a healthy environment was established to empower children and youth, increase national, regional and global decision-making on children’s rights and the environment, increase stakeholders’ capacity to implement children’s rights regarding the environment and contribute to standard-setting and policy development.114 75. The Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action, which was signed by the Governments of Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, Monaco, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Peru, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden at the twenty-fifth session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December 2019, commits States to accelerate inclusive, child and youth-friendly climate policies and action at the national and global levels, including by enhancing child and youth participation; to advocate for global recognition and fulfilment of children’s right to a healthy environment; and enshrine it in regional treaties and frameworks, national constitutions and/or legislation.115 76. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration includes specific commitments in relation to environmental degradation.116 Regional level 77. The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean guarantees the right to 111 112 113 114 115 116 14 Committee on the Rights of the Child, general comment No. 16. www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/human_rights/CRBP/ Childrens_Rights_and_Business_Principles.pdf. General comment No. 16. www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Environment/SREnvironment/ConceptNoteChildRights _EN.PDF. www.voicesofyouth.org/campaign/cop25-join-declaration-children-youth-and-climate-action. General Assembly resolution 73/195, annex.

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