Respecting human rights
Our approach to human rights
We respect human rights in all aspects of doing business and have embedded human rights in our Shell General Business Principles, Code of Conduct and Shell Supplier Principles. Our approach is informed by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
We focus our effort on four key areas, where human rights are critical to the way we operate and where we have identified the risks are highest for potential impact on human rights. These four key areas are labour rights, communities, supply chains and security. In 2021, we continued to take steps to improve our approach to human rights. We published Shell’s Approach to Human Rights in connection with the launch of our Powering Progress strategy.
Read more about our human rights policies and focus areas at www.shell.com/human-rights.
Modern slavery
Shell is opposed to all forms of modern slavery. Such exploitation is against our commitment to respect human rights as set out in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. We follow the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
We contributed to IPIECA’s guidance on "Labour rights risk identification in the supply chain", which was launched in 2021. The publication aims to help companies identify and assess risks, giving examples of risk-based screening methodologies and background resources on human rights due diligence.
Read more about our approach in our statement under the UK Modern Slavery Act at www.shell.com/uk-modern-slavery-act.
Security practices
We work to maintain the safety, security and human rights of our employees, contract staff and local communities. Shell Group companies have implemented the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) since their development in 2000. We incorporate the VPSHR into our core security-related processes and contracts. Security staff and contractors are trained in the implementation of the Voluntary Principles initiatives.
Read more about our approach to human rights and security at www.shell.com/sustainability/transparency/human-rights and more about our implementation of the VPSHR at www.shell.com/vpshr.
