Ericsson, GE join Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights

Ericsson and General Electric have joined The Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights (BLIHR), a business-led project designed to help lead and develop the corporate response to human rights.

BLIHR aims to find practical applications for the aspirations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights within a business context, and to inspire other businesses to do likewise.

Ericsson is the 13th company to join BLIHR and the move re-enforces Ericsson’s longstanding commitment to human rights and corporate responsibility activities. 

Henry Sténson, Ericsson’s Senior Vice President, Communications, says: “As one of the first companies to support the United Nations Global Compact, Ericsson has a proactive approach to environmental, social and ethical issues. Deciding to join BLIHR is a natural extension of our corporate responsibility activities, and puts us at the forefront of this work globally.

“Ericsson also believes that telecommunications is a fundamental prerequisite for social and economic development. As one of the world’s largest providers of communications equipment and services, we can play a vital role in this process”.  

BLIHR is chaired by Mary Robinson, the previous United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland.

“GE, through its policies and practices, promotes the advancement of fundamental human rights,” said Bob Corcoran, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Chief Learning Officer.  “We look forward to working together with BLIHR’s other member companies toward the principal objective of finding ‘practical ways of applying the aspirations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights within a business context and to inspire other businesses to do likewise.”

The thirteen members of the Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights are:

ABB Ltd

Alcan Inc.

AREVA SA

Barclays PLC

Ericsson

General Electric Company

Gap Inc.

Hewlett-Packard Company

MTV Networks Europe

National Grid plc

Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development

Novo Nordisk A/S

Statoil ASA