2021 Sustainability Report
| PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS THE FS ITALIANE GROUP PROMOTES THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS, CITIZENS, SUPPLIERS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS, HELPING CREATE A RESPONSIBLE VALUE CHAIN AND OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS’ UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE FUNDAMENTAL CONVENTIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION.
Among the fundamental principles of the Sustainability Policy (issued in 2019) on which the Group’s actions are based, respect for human rights and the commitment to creating a responsible chain stand out. This commitment was confirmed in the Code of Ethics (which guides the Group in its relationships with stakeholders). To strengthen the commitments already taken at Group level, the operating companies are issuing their own sustainability policies, making respecting and promoting human rights in Italy and abroad a pillar of their business models. Furthermore, the Group promotes open and inclusive workplaces, it is against any discriminating or harmful behaviour, prevents any form of irregu102
lar work and encourages policies that are supportive of personnel well-being. In 2017, the group joined the UN’s Global Compact (“GC”) network, undertaking to comply with the ten human rights, labour, environmental and anti-corruption principles and include them in its way of doing business. These principles integrate and reinforce those already established in the group’s Sustainability Policy, Code of Ethics, 231 Model and the anti-corruption policy and ABC system guidelines. In particular, with respect to human rights, by signing the Global Compact, the group has formally undertaken to:
* uphold and comply with international human rights provisions; * ensure that it is not complicit in human rights abuses. The Group maintains its commitment to prevent any type of human rights violation through: * the use of specific, standard clauses42 about respect for human rights in contracts with suppliers, having suppliers sign the Group’s Code of Ethics and introducing a sustainability criterion in the supplier qualification process43; * the pursuit of better methods for supply chain management thanks to the participation in the Railsponsible works, an initiative that brings together major railway companies and the Group’s commitment in the preparation of the “Sustainable procurement management guidelines” to integrate the more recent national and international sustainability standards - including human rights - in the procurement of goods, service and labour;
