Human Rights Policy

Human Rights Policy

Target Security Group Ltd’s (TSG) Human Rights policy formalizes our long-standing commitment to uphold and respect human rights for all people. TSG’s leadership team believes this policy reflects the standards for business conduct and human rights, provides a cornerstone for TSG to identify and manage its human rights impacts, mitigate risks and maximize opportunities for human rights to flourish, and fosters collaborative and transparent engagement with the global community of stakeholders and investors.

Human rights are the fundamental rights, freedoms, and standards of treatment adhered to by governments, businesses, and individuals around the world. TSG upholds and respects human rights as contained in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the eight Core Labour Conventions developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Global Compact, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Guiding Principles, in particular, clarify the duty of governments’ to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business enterprises, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and a joint responsibility of business and government to remedy adverse human rights impacts if they occur.

Following substantial research, benchmarking of industry best practices, and consultation with leading organizations on the topic of human rights, TSG believes that it is critical for all values-based companies to develop a formal approach to human rights. Human rights have long been integrated into how TSG works with supply chain partners, develops employee ethics codes and policies, and creates a safe, inclusive, and diverse workplace.

Creating, implementing, and communicating a formal human rights policy, as part of a broader framework and roadmap for protecting human rights, will help to maintain TSG’s leadership in the IT industry, reduce the potential for negative reputational risks, and present opportunities for engagement and collaboration with human rights stakeholders.

TSG’s approach to human rights is informed by the documents identified above, and anchored to the approach set forth in the UN Guiding Principles. Many leading companies, including TSG, with global operations have committed to adhering to the Guiding Principles which include the development of a human rights policy, a framework to assess and mitigate known risks, and mechanisms to report and remedy grievances where they occur. TSG is fully committed to this approach over the long-term. 

The UN Guiding Principles state that:

“[I]n order [for companies] to meet their responsibility to respect human rights, business enterprises should have in place policies and processes appropriate to their size and circumstances, including: (a) A policy commitment to meet their responsibility to respect human rights;
(b) A human rights due-diligence process to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for how they address their impacts on human rights;
(c) Processes to enable the remediation of any adverse human rights impacts they cause or to which they contribute.
Business enterprises need to know and show that they respect human rights. They cannot do so unless they have certain policies and processes in place.”

The Guiding Principles additionally call for companies to integrate human rights assessment processes into regular business practices, and to measure and report on impacts. The Guiding Principles also require proactive stakeholder engagement as a tool for companies help to identify and mitigate potential risks and develop positive opportunities for impacted communities. 

Overview

TSG supports these organizations and standards, and the positive impact they are having on global human rights:
1. UN Global Compact
2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
3. International Labour Organisation
4. Global Network Initiative
5. Human Rights Capital

Scope

The scope of TSG’s human rights policy applies to all employees, partners, suppliers, and contractors, and supports the human rights of all TSG stakeholders including internet users. 

Compliance Effective Date

This policy is effective 26/11/2020

Policy Statement

1.1. Human rights
TSG and all employees must continue to respect, support and promote the human rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Employees, partners, suppliers and contractors must:

1.1.1 Commit to responsible business practices that do not infringe on human rights including appropriate evaluation of the human rights impacts of activities undertaken by and under the control of TSG and a governance structure which will provide appropriate processes and mechanisms to address questions regarding the impact of TSG’s activities on human rights.
1.1.2 Avoid human rights abuses by complying with all applicable laws and regularly assessing human rights risks.
1.1.3 Protect privacy and data security for our customers.
1.1.4 Promote the benefits of increased connection and communication through the use of technologies that support freedom of expression.
1.1.5 Contribute to global communities by supporting diversity and employee
engagement.
1.1.6 Support impactful social programs including those focused on critical human needs (food, water, shelter and disaster relief), education, and economic empowerment.
1.1.7 Report transparently on TSG’s support of and performance on human
rights.
1.1.8 Engage openly with stakeholders on issues that impact human rights.
1.1.9 Contribute to the development of international standards relevant to the IT sector and consistent with respect for human rights.
1.1.10 Work with TSG’s suppliers and partners to uphold these same values and implement similar policies and practices. 

Policy Compliance

2.1 Compliance Measurement
Compliance with TSG policies is required. Compliance with this policy is verified through various methods, including but not limited to, reports from available business tools, audits, self-assessment, and/or feedback to the policy owner.

This corporate human rights policy is governed by a process which demands full compliance. Non-compliance will be managed by TSG’s QMR. Concerns from employees, suppliers, partners or any other stakeholder can be communicated through the same channels as any other ethical issue.

2.2 Non-Compliance
Compliance with TSG policies is required. Deviations or non-compliance with this policy, including attempts to circumvent the stated policy/process by bypassing or knowingly manipulating the process, system, or data may result in disciplinary actions, up to and including termination, as allowed by local laws.

Non-compliance will be managed by TSG’s Chief Compliance Officer or his or her designee. Concerns from employees, suppliers, partners or any other stakeholder can be communicated through the same channels as any other ethical issue.

TSG employees are required to adhere to the TSG Human Rights policy. If an employee is unsure how to implement the Human Rights policy in their day to day responsibilities, they must speak with their manager to ensure compliance with the policy. If an employee observes or is aware of processes or actions that do not conform to TSG’s Corporate Human Rights policy, they must escalate the issue to the appropriate reporting channel. 

Definitions
The following terms and definitions are used in this document: 

Human Rights

Human rights are the fundamental rights, freedoms and standards of treatment adhered to by governments, businesses, and individuals around the world and to which all people are entitled. Fundamental human rights are found in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, the eight ILO Core Labor Conventions, and various covenants and treaties that implement these principles. 

United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) 

The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. The Global Compact exists to assist the private sector in the management of increasingly complex risks and opportunities in the environmental, social and governance realms, seeking to embed markets and societies with universal principles and values for the benefit of all.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was enacted in 1948 by the United Nations, and contains 30 high-level principles that established the modern scope of “human rights.”

Freedom of expression

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right contained in the UDHR and several additional implementing treaties. As defined in the UDHR, freedom of expression is the right to express one’s individual views and opinion, and the “freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” UDHR, Article 19.

International Labor Organization (ILO)
The International Labor Organization is the international organization under the United Nations responsible for developing and overseeing international labor standards. It is the only United Nations agency that brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies / programs promoting decent work for all.
Global Network Initiative (GNI)
The Global Network Initiative is a multi-stakeholder organization committed to working with IT businesses to identify, navigate, and mitigate human rights risk and impacts.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.