Topic 4: Pledge to Respect Human Rights (Preamble paragraphs 6 and 7, See MODULE 12)

(i) Part One

Paragraph 6 of the Preamble refers to a pledge. This is an example of a pledge.

Following a court case that was a serious public relations setback for the Mitsubishi Corporation in the United States, they implemented a pledge to respect human rights. This is the story, and the pledge follows.

This story appeared in the New York Times on 29th August 1997.

“The Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has settled a lawsuit with 27 women who had accused the company of condoning sexual harassment in the workplace, lawyers for both sides announced today.

Two of the original 29 plaintiffs did not participate in the settlement involving the Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois, USA.

The company, based in Tokyo, promised to donate $100,000 to women’s causes in the Bloomington-Normal area, representatives of the two sides said at a news conference.

They would not disclose other details of the settlement, but a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Mitsubishi would pay the women $9.5 million. Some of them will receive as much as $500,000, and others will get lesser amounts, depending on their experiences at the plant, the source said.

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a separate lawsuit accusing Mitsubishi of harassment against more than 300 women. The settlement of this private suit does not affect it, said John Hendrickson, a spokesman for the agency.

(ii) Part Two

This is the pledge the corporation adopted following the court case:

Basic Principles

  • Respect human rights, and do not discriminate on any basis or engage in any form of harassment.
  • Maintain a high regard for environmental considerations in conducting our business operations, and ensure that our business is conducted in an environmentally sustainable manner, and comply with treaties, laws and regulations concerning the environment.
  • Promote fair business practices and comply with trade rules, regulations, and internal corporate rules and policies.
  • Comply with the rules and regulations of international trade.
  • Protect and properly use confidential and proprietary information, protect the rights of the Company and respect the rights of others.
  • Do not engage in insider trading.
  • Avoid conflicts of interest with the Company; maintain a distinction between corporate and private business.
  • Record and report accounting and financial information timely and accurately.
  • Maintain proper legal and ethical standards with respect to gifts and entertainment.
  • Resolutely oppose any organisation, group or individual engaged in unlawful activities and do not provide money or other types of economic benefits to them.
  • Promptly report to or consult the superiors, the Group Compliance Officers, the Domestic Branch Compliance Officers, the Foreign Regional Compliance Officers, the relevant departments, the Secretariat for the Compliance Committee, or the outside counsel in charge of Compliance upon discovering or committing any violations of this “Code of Conduct”.

(iii) Simplified versions of paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Preamble

Because all member countries of the United Nations have promised to work together to respect human rights and freedoms.

Because all countries need to have the same understanding of what these human rights and freedoms are.