Nasdaq Helsinki hosts the first Bell Ringing on World Children’s Day to promote Child-Lens Investing, an approach led by UNICEF to integrate children’s rights into finance.
UNICEF and the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative (UN SSE) are joining forces with the world’s stock exchanges to strengthen the integration of children’s rights into global capital markets. The initiative seeks to inspire stock exchanges, investors, and listed companies to place children at the heart of their sustainability strategies.
“Children make up one third of the world’s population today – and they hold the promise for tomorrow’s societies. By linking the power of finance with the rights of children, we are building partnerships that can create lasting impact for the generations to come”, said Cristina Bertolino, Head of the UNICEF Innovative Finance Hub.
The initiative was launched at Nasdaq Helsinki on the World Children’s Day with a ceremonial bell ringing. This gesture marked a shared commitment to advancing sustainability and safeguarding the rights and well-being of every child. Beyond opening the trading day, it served as a call to action, highlighting that applying a child lens is not only a moral imperative but also a source of market opportunity.
“Companies that integrate a child lens into their strategies prioritize children's rights, safety, and well-being. This helps businesses to unlock long-term value creation and gain a competitive edge in increasingly purpose-driven markets”, the Finnish Minister for Trade and Development, Ville Tavio, said before ringing the bell with a youth advocate, Bourse Ambassador Aada Ahola.
Through the initiative, UNICEF and the UN SSE will work with stock exchanges to provide practical guidance and training on children’s rights to capital market participants.
“The well-being of children is fundamental to long-term growth, innovation and prosperity. By working with UNICEF, Nasdaq Helsinki and stock exchanges around the world, we are helping to embed the next generation’s rights and voices in how we define and measure sustainability across global capital markets,” said Anthony Miller, Chief Coordinator of the UN SSE.
An international advisory group, co-chaired by Henrik Husman, President of Nasdaq Helsinki, will guide and inform the development of this guidance.
“At Nasdaq, our purpose is to empower economic opportunity. We believe Child-Lens Investing represents an innovative example of the power of markets in advancing the needs and rights of children. Today, we are honored to host the first-ever Ring the Bell for Children here in Helsinki, underscoring our joint commitment with UNICEF and UN SSE to advancing sustainable market practices that empower the next generation”, said Husman.
Child-Lens Investing (CLI) was developed by UNICEF in collaboration with over 100 stakeholders in sustainable finance with the support of the Government of Finland. Its cornerstone document – the Child-Lens Investing Framework – along with related resources, is publicly available through the UNICEF Innovative Finance Hub website: CHILD-LENS INVESTING | UNICEF Office of Innovation
About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.