Safeguarding human rights

BP recognizes that our operations can have potential impacts on the rights of those who work for us and those who live in the communities around our operations

We support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in our role as a major employer, investor and energy provider. We have a human rights guidance note, which we use as the basis of human rights training in a number of businesses.

Assessing potential suppliers

During 2007, we began to screen potential suppliers to examine their human rights practices, with a process introduced by our procurement team in China. When companies are first being considered as potential suppliers, they are sent questionnaires that ask them to declare that they do not use forced labour and that they check employees’ ages, as well as requesting details of performance on issues such as the environment, health, safety, minimum salaries and overtime payments.

If a potential supplier is then considered for approval, its health, safety, security, environment and social compliance practices are checked through an on-site audit to confirm that the company concerned complies with regulations, does not use child labour and that there are no signs of forced labour being used, such as locked doors or unusual numbers of security guards.

If a supplier fails to meet the standards required, the audit team will notify the buyer within BP not to proceed with the business. In 2007 we audited 18 potential suppliers and rejected six for social compliance or safety issues.

Identifying social issues

BP is working to ensure that appropriate consideration is given to social issues, such as worker welfare, including child and forced labour; security and human rights; community health; community engagement; community investment; involuntary resettlement; and respect for the rights of indigenous people.

Protecting human rights within our significant agreements

Several of BP’s significant investment agreements include provisions on human rights. For example, the bilateral security protocol for our operations in Azerbaijan ensures that the UDHR forms part of the legal framework for our Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli oil project, the Shah Deniz gas project, the South Caucasus gas pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. We also agreed with the government of Azerbaijan that this bilateral security protocol will extend the application of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights to all of the assets there for future operations. At the Tangguh gas project in Indonesia, a commitment to follow human rights principles and procedures that are consistent with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights is included in the Joint Security Guidelines, an agreement signed with the Papuan police.

Attestation

The information on this page forms part of the information reviewed and reported on by Ernst & Young as part of BP's 2007 sustainability reporting.

View Ernst & Young's assurance statement

Case studies

Human rights training in Georgia

Applying the VPs for Security and Human Rights

Related websites

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

Related downloads

BP's Human Rights Guidance Note (pdf, 244KB)