ABB’s commitment to respecting human rights and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) has long shaped the company’s values and policies. The first ABB Human Rights policy and statement was announced in 2007, and since then ABB has been developing the processes and capabilities vital to advancing human rights across its entire value chain. This commitment to human rights has served as the basis for the ABB Code of Conduct and the ABB Supplier Code of Conduct and is being further incorporated into the company’s business strategy, as detailed in the ABB Sustainability strategy.
Stronger governance
To ensure the most salient human rights risks are understood and managed across ABB, the company has implemented an operating model that brings human rights accountability and expertise to all ABB Divisions, beyond the Corporate Group level. The Human Rights Working Group aims to amplify human rights concerns in everyday decision-making and promote cross-functional collaboration.
A growing network of human rights champions is also proving effective. These internal experts are appointed in diverse functions – from marketing and sales to supply chain management and operations – and trained to identify human rights risks specific to their businesses. This set-up enables a more efficient integration of human rights principles in business decisions and fosters internal knowledge-sharing. Based on the success to date, the businesses are evaluating ways to optimize the network to cover risks specific to certain countries and regions.
Reinforced risk analysis
ABB has established an effective base for supplier screening, qualification and monitoring. The project screening processes are being strengthened to flag potentially negative social and/or environmental impacts throughout the project lifecycle, in effect allowing ABB to make even more informed decisions. Human rights criteria are also encompassed in the risk review process for potential mergers and acquisitions.
Additionally, the company is increasing self-assessments and periodic audits. This internal assessment program for ABB sites covers employees as well as contractors. Also, an analysis of the most salient human rights risks is being updated, a process that is essential to determining exposure to potential violations and short- and medium-term human rights priorities.
Expanded learning and engagement tools
While governance and risk analysis are vital to ABB’s ability to respect and promote human rights, ABB believes that fundamental, enduring progress is only possible if all ABB employees are aware of the basics of human rights – as defined in the International Bill of Human Rights and the UNGPs – and the most detrimental violations, such as child labor, modern slavery and forced labor.
To that end, ABB continues to develop new resources that raise awareness and put human rights principles into concrete business practices. These tools range from articles and newsletters to practical case studies illustrating how human rights challenges play out in day-to-day business – and how they are remedied. Newly customized training programs also equip ABB teams to manage potential human rights issues and, importantly, to grasp the impact of human rights risks on both people and business.
More information on human rights at ABB can be found here
