2012 Registration document and annual financial report - BNP Paribas

A RESPONSIBLE BANK: INFORMATION ON BNP PARIBAS’ ECONOMIC,SOCIAL, CIVIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY“Civic” responsibility: helping to combat social exclusion and promoting education and culture7RESPECTING THE UN GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON HUMAN RIGHTSIn 2012, Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, Director and CEO, and François Villeroyde Galhau, COO in charge of BNP Paribas’ Social and EnvironmentalResponsibility, signed the Statement of BNP Paribas on Human Rights, inwhich the Group commits to ensuring human rights are respected withinits sphere of influence: employees, suppliers, customers and communities.EMPLOYEESBNP Paribas promotes and respects the dignity and rights of its employeesby applying a committed and responsible human resources policy. Itsemployees must also exercise and respect human rights standards intheir professional activities. To ensure these standards are respected,BNP Paribas has drawn up a Code of Conduct that applies to all itsemployees.In line with these steps, the Group’s Human Resources Department hasalso launched an audit of employee situations around the world. The aimis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the entities in the regionswhere the Group operates. Brazil, which was selected as a pilot country,will act as a laboratory for the creation of a self assessment tool focusingon freedom of association and collective negotiation, non-discriminationand health & safety at work. Once validated, this tool will be rolled outwithin the Group.SUPPLIERS AND SUBCONTRACTORSRespecting human rights standards is part of the commitments expectedof suppliers and subcontractors under the Group’s Charter of Social andEnvironmental Responsibility with its suppliers.In 2012, 700 quantified analyses of suppliers’ CSR performance werecarried out, including a section on their adherence to human rights.CUSTOMERSBNP Paribas expects its customers and clients to manage their ownprofessional activities in accordance with human rights standards.In more sensitive sectors, BNP Paribas develops specifi c social andenvironmental policies that include human rights criteria. In addition,as a signatory to the “Equator Principles”, BNP Paribas adheres to a setof standards – including various human rights aspects – when evaluatingand managing social and environmental risks in project finance.BNP Paribas is therefore highly vigilant when it comes to managingits indirect risks. For example, it recently decided to suspend any typeof financing of cotton from a Central Asia country, on the grounds thatthe country in question used forced child labour during the harvestseason. The Group made this decision after a process of dialogue andthorough investigation. BNP Paribas is currently waiting for informationdemonstrating a clear improvement in the situation and remains incontact with the various parties monitoring it, so that if appropriate itmay subsequently reconsider its decision.COMMUNITIESBNP Paribas promotes the highest standards of professional conduct,including in terms of actions aimed at preventing corruption and moneylaundering (cf Economic responsibility - Business ethics). BNP Paribasbelieves that sustainable economic development encourages wider accessto fundamental rights. By emphasising the improvement of financialinclusion in the communities in which it operates, BNP Paribas clearlydemonstrates its determination to contribute to such development.The extra-financial rating agency Vigeo ranked the Group as one of the30 most advanced companies in the area of human rights, in a surveyconducted in 2012 on the human rights behaviour of around 1,500 listedcompanies in North America, Asia and Europe between 2009 and 2012.72012 Registration document and annual financial report - BNP PARIBAS 413