Shell and external voluntary codes

• Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Statement of Principles and Agreed Actions
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
• Transparency International Business Principles on Countering Bribery (2002)
• Principles for Countering Bribery (PACI)
• United Nations Declaration on Human Rights
• Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Statement of Principles and Agreed Actions

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Statement of Principles and Agreed Actions aims to increase the transparency of payments made by business to governments and government related entities as well as transparency of revenues by those host country governments. It is hoped the transparency standard will be used in other emerging codes, guidelines and initiatives spreading transparency throughout companies and around the globe. 

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The International Labour Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

Adopted in 1998, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is an expression of commitment by governments, employers' and workers' organizations to uphold basic human values - values that are vital to our social and economic lives.

The Declaration covers four areas:

• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining;
• The elimination of forced and compulsory labour;
• The abolition of child labour, and;
• The elimination of discrimination in the workplace.
  

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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are set voluntary guidelines that promote responsible business conduct among multinational companies. The governments that adhere to the guidelines (this comprises governments of all 30 OECD member countries, and ten non-Member countries Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Estonia, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia) encourage Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) to follow the guidelines wherever they operate. The code is supported by a network of National Contact Points who promote the guidelines to companies and unions in each of the signatory countries. 

The guidelines have a wide scope, covering areas such as: disclosure; bribery and corruption; human rights; fair competition employee protection and industrial legislation; consumer protection; the environment; science and technology and taxation. 

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Transparency International Business Principles on Countering Bribery (2002)

Transparency International (TI) is a global NGO working to combat bribery and corruption by forming a global coalition of government, business and civil society.  In order to assist business develop effective approaches to countering bribery Transparency International and Social Accountability worked with business to develop the Transparency International Business Principles on Countering Bribery.  The Principles are a practical good practice and benchmarking tool, which companies can use as a start point to develop their own anti-bribery systems. 
The Business Principles also give practical effect to initiatives such as the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the ICC Rules of Conduct to Combat Extortion and Bribery and the anti-bribery provisions of the revised OECD Guidelines for Multinationals.

Visit the Transparency International website - opens in new window and our business integrity section.

Principles for Countering Bribery (PACI)

The World Economic Forum Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) was formally launched in 2004 to help combat global corruption. There are 139 companies that have signed a statement supporting the PACI Principles for Countering Bribery. Supporter companies will either implement anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices based on these Principles or use them to benchmark and improve their existing programmes to achieve the objectives of the Principles. Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer is a signatory of the PACI Principles.

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United Nations Declaration on Human Rights

The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights is the first comprehensive set of minimum standards on human rights to be signed up to by all governments in the United Nations (UN) and adopted by the General Assembly on 10th December 1948. Whilst the Declaration is directed at governments, businesses as important ‘organs of society’ have a responsibility to promote respect for human rights worldwide. The Declaration covers a wide range of areas including human rights concerns of particular interest to business, such as discrimination, security, privacy, fair judicial hearing, work and education. 

Read the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights - opens in new window and learn more about more about our approach to human rights.

Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Norway, companies in the extractive and energy sectors, and non-governmental organisation, all with an interest in human rights and corporate social responsibility, have engaged in a dialogue on security and human rights. Through this dialogue, the participants have developed the following set of voluntary principles to guide Companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Visit the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights website - opens in new window  and discover more about our approach to security and human rights.