Our view on human rights
Driven by the vision to create a better everyday life for the many people, IKEA is ensuring we commit to human rights throughout our business operations, value-chain, and in the communities where we operate. We are committed to living up to our responsibility to respect human rights in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Human rights abuses have no place in our business operations, business decisions or across our value chain.
When referring to human rights we take into consideration, at a minimum, the Bill of Human Rights. It includes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Thematic UN human rights conventions, other ILO conventions, and UN frameworks also provide guidance on how we approach specific topics and vulnerable groups[1], including the Children’s Rights and Business Principles on children’s rights. We work actively to ensure that our commitment to operating with respect for human rights is integrated into relevant company policies, processes, and ways of working. Through the application of human rights due diligence procedures, we continuously strengthen our efforts to identify, assess, and take action on the human rights impacts of our business activities and relationships. We demand the same high standard of responsible behaviour from our many business partners.
IKEA supports EU legislation on Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence
On 24 January 2021, Inter IKEA Group, together with 11 companies from the Nordic Business Network for Human Rights, signed a joint statement supporting EU legislation on mandatory human rights due diligence regulation.
In the statement, all signatories share considerations for the design of such legislation based on their collective experience conducting human rights due diligence across the many sectors and geographies in which they operate.
At IKEA, we believe that supporting the joint statement is very much aligned with our commitments and ambitions to be a part of creating a more fair and equal society. We believe that progressive legislation can not only support business integration of respect of human rights but also enable sustainable business growth and development in society.
We know that respecting human rights and ultimately creating a positive impact in society will not be done by us alone. We welcome the opportunity to work closely with other stakeholders towards these goals, contributing to a better everyday life where all people’s rights are respected.
Read the full statement from Nordic Business Network for Human Rights here.
Find more information on our view on forced labour here.
[1] Thematic UN human rights conventions and other ILO conventions include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.