Human Rights -Develop and Adopt Policies

2005 – Chevron Texaco Corp.

 

WHEREAS:  

We believe transnational corporations operating in countries with repressive governments, ethnic conflict, weak rule of law, endemic corruption, or poor labor and environmental standards face serious risks to their reputation and share value if they are seen as responsible for, or complicit in, human rights violations;

 

Our company has business operations in more than 180 nations, many of which have consistently been noted by the U.S. Department of State as violating basic human rights  (February 25, 2004 www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003);

 

Over sixty (60) companies have already adopted human rights policies based upon the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights  and;

 

In April, 2004, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights   reviewed the document brought forth by  UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, “Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights.” ((http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/links/norms-Aug2003.html) The UN Commission confirmed the importance and priority of the responsibilities of transnational corporations related to human rights and requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to compile a report on the scope and legal status of the norms and to identify options for strengthening the norms and means of implementation; 

 

Hewlett-Packard together with 8 European companies has stated publicly that they will use the UN Norms as a guide to develop and implement human rights policies;

 

We believe significant commercial advantages may accrue to our company by adopting a comprehensive human rights policy  based on the above mentioned  UN Human Rights Norms which would  serve to enhance corporate reputation, improve employee recruitment and retention, improve community and stakeholder relations, and reduce risk of adverse publicity, consumer boycotts, divestment campaigns and law suits and ;

 

On June 30, 2004 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Alien Tort Statute of 1789 which permits foreigners to file suit in U.S. courts for violations of international law that have “definite content and acceptance among civilized nations”;

 

 “In the post-Enron environment, every global company’s board of directors,  needs to oversee its assessment and management of these risks. Given the magnitude of potential claims, liability may even extend to individual directors if they are not seen as exercising proper oversight.” (Harvard Business Review, August 2003)

 

RESOLVED:

 

Shareholders request the Board to prepare a report to shareholders describing the progress toward development and implementation of a Company Human Rights policy and the plan for implementation by October, 2005.

 

This report to be prepared at reasonable expense and omitting proprietary information.

 

SUPPORTING STATEMENT:

 

The proponents believe our company’s human rights policy should be comprehensive, transparent, verifiable and based on the provisions contained in the “Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights.”  We believe such a policy will benefit our company by helping to ensure that it is not associated with violations of human rights. 

We urge you to vote FOR this proposal.

 



Sponsors:

Lead: Society of Jesus -- Wisconsin Province, Doris Gormley SRI Consultant; Catholic Equity Fund; Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston; Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic; Sisters of Mercy of St. Louis Region; Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province; Society of Jesus -- Chicago Province; Society of Jesus -- Missouri Province;