This metric is intended to capture if the organization had a human rights policy in place as of the end of the reporting period.
'Human rights policy' means a policy commitment approved by the board of directors on human rights, which specifies that the economic activities of the organization shall be in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights stipulate that an organization should express their commitment to meet this responsibility through a statement of policy that:
Is approved at the most senior level of the business enterprise;
Is informed by relevant internal and/or external expertise;
Stipulates the organization's human rights expectations of personnel, business partners and other parties directly linked to its operations, products or services;
Is publicly available and communicated internally and externally to all personnel, business partners and other relevant parties;
Is reflected in operational policies and procedures necessary to embed it throughout the business enterprise.
For more information, see the following resource: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf
Information contained in an organization's human rights policy may depend on the organization's operations, location, and sector. An organization may also include in their human rights policy:
A commitment to respect and protect the human rights of workers, including those of migrant and temporary workers, as well as those of workers in the company's supply chain.
A commitment to not engage in or support human trafficking or slavery.
A commitment to respect the rights of indigenous peoples and to not engage in activities that harm their lands, cultures, or communities.
A commitment to not engage in or support extrajudicial killings, torture, or other forms of violence.
A commitment to respect the rights of individuals and communities affected by company operations, such as the right to free, prior and informed consent for projects that may impact them.
A commitment to respect the rights of workers to form and join trade unions and to engage in collective bargaining.
A commitment to respect the rights of workers to voice complaints and concerns about working conditions without fear of retaliation.
A commitment to implement human rights due diligence process in order to identify and mitigate human rights risks.
A commitment to establish and maintain an effective grievance mechanism for workers and communities affected by company operations.
A commitment to regularly monitor and report on the company's human rights performance.