1. THE WIDER COMMUNITY
Section 1.2 - National Communities
Principles
1.2.P.1
The company is fully committed to respecting internationally
recognized human rights standards, including the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, corresponding international covenants
adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, and
International Labour Organization Conventions and standards
found in International Human Rights Law and International
Humanitarian Law.
1.2.P.2
The company recognizes that the state has a duty to protect
and promote internationally recognized human rights standards
and is aware that human rights treaties, which are legally
binding on states that ratify them, require the state to regulate
the behaviour of the private sector as non-state actors in
respect of the rights guaranteed by treaty.
1.2.P.3
The company makes a commitment to, as a minimum, the internationally
recognized standards of performance in each and every country
in which it operates.
1.2.P.4
The company, in all its locations, holds it to be the responsibility
of every employee to ensure that there is full compliance
with all internationally recognized labour, health, environment
and safety standards.
1.2.P.5
The company contributes in a responsible and transparent way
to each society's efforts to promote full human development
for all its members.
1.2.P.6
The company respects the political jurisdiction of national
communities.
1.2.P.7
The company does not use the mobility of capital and the immobility
of labour as a tool against workers.
1.2.P.8
The company subscribes to the principle that every person
has the right of access to health care, including access to
affordable therapies and medicines.
1.2.P.9
The company views health in holistic terms of body, mind and
spirit, rather than the absence of sickness.
1.2.P.10
The company is committed to peace in all its endeavours.
1.2.P.11
The company that produces arms or raw materials for arms,
safeguards participation of all stakeholders in lobbying for
the restructuring of companies so that workersí interests
will not be threatened.
1.2.P.12
The company aims at converting from arms production to the
production of socially useful life sustaining products that
promote peace.
Criteria
1.2.C.1
The company adopts a comprehensive and verifiable human rights
policy which includes an explicit commitment to secure the
principles and values contained in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and its two covenants and the International
Labour Organisation standards.
1.2.C.2
The company links executive compensation to social as well
as financial performance, including the companyís efforts
to secure basic human rights within its operations.
1.2.C.3
The company carefully considers the international human rights
implications of entering into business relationships, either
as a direct partner or through a third-party venture in which
it holds an interest with the parties or entities of any state
recognized or known for its widespread violations of international
human rights standards.
1.2.C.4
In instances where legislation or the actual practices of
any public institution violate fundamental human rights, the
company does everything in its power to secure those fundamental
rights in its own operations. The company also seeks to exercise
its corporate influence to contribute to the establishment
of such fundamental rights.
1.2.C.5
The company has a policy that, when there is a movement from
within the country calling for withdrawal, in instances where
there are gross and systematic violations of human rights,
it will withdraw from that country.
1.2.C.6
An active human rights committee, with a designated responsible
person, has been established by and reports to the Board of
Directors and publicly discloses any significant material
effect on the company.
1.2.C.7
The company pays appropriate taxes and uses no covert means
(such as inflated internal or transfer prices) for removing
profits from a host jurisdiction.
1.2.C.8
A drug company creates and implements a policy of price restraint
on prescription drugs, utilizing a combination of approaches
to keep drug prices at affordable levels, and refrains from
enforcing patents in developing countries where this will
exacerbate health problems.
1.2.C.9
A tobacco company acknowledges the inherent hazards connected
to the use of its products.
1.2.C.10
The company ensures that its activities respect all life on
the Planet.
1.2.C.11
The company is committed not to involve itself in military
or war activities.
1.2.C.12
The activities of the company are geared towards peacemaking.
1.2.C.13
The company involved in the arms industry will adopt a policy
for the conversion of its products from military to civilian
use.
Bench Marks
1.2.B.1
A senior executive in each operation is responsible for all
matters of human rights and reports to the appropriate management
committee and the committee of the Board of Directors established
for human rights matters.
1.2.B.2
The company by policy and by practice does not commit or engage
in activity which leads to the abuse and violation of internationally
recognized human rights standards, nor does it assist in abuses
and violations committed by others, be they government authorities,
paramilitary organisations, armed gangs or other non-state
actors.
1.2.B.3
The company adopts a security policy that protects human rights
and is consistent with international standards of law enforcement.
(UN Basic Principles on the use of Force and Firearms by Law
Enforcement Officials and the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement
Officials)
1.2.B.4
The company, in consultation with the stakeholders, uses a
checklist, which guides its approach to human rights.
1.2.B.5
The company adheres to the relevant codes of the World Health Organization
(e.g. The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes) and the
relevant International Labour Organisation's recommendations on health and
safety, on the health of young persons, the health of women, the use of chemicals,
occupational diseases, compensation for occupational injury and other related
issues.
1.2.B.6
The company develops its health policies based on 'Beyond
Philanthropy Benchmarks' published by Oxfam UK, VSO and Save
the Children (July 2002).
1.2.B.7
The company subscribes to the principles expressed in the
1977 International Labour Organization Tripartite Declaration
of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social
Policy.
1.2.B.8
The company discloses labour and human rights tribunal cases
and lawsuits settled or decided against the company, in addition
to any pending lawsuits that might have a significant material
effect on the company.
1.2.B.9
Operations in countries, which consistently violate the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, are reviewed annually by the
Board of Directors
1.2.B.10
All contraventions of human rights are reviewed and recorded,
and corrective action is taken.
1.2.B.11
All contraventions of health and safety laws are reviewed
and recorded, and corrective action is taken.
1.2.B.12
A tobacco company ceases all advertising and promotion of
tobacco targeting young people, and supports efforts to make
enclosed spaces smoke-free.
1.2.B.13
Taxes are paid by the company within the appropriate jurisdictions.
1.2.B.14
The company distributes a comprehensive and independently
verified report on the production and use of its products
in the arms and security industry.
1.2.B.15
A company which manufactures or trades in armaments ensures
independent monitoring by civil society of the companyís
operations.
1.2.B.16
The company strictly controls its arms sales, by establishing
a clear system of accounting of the use of the arms and reports
the information to the public.
1.2.B.17
The company develops a plan for the conversion of its products
from military to civilian use and ensures that workersí
interests will not be undermined in the process.