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Resolution: Adopt Human Rights Policies (2006)
2006 Shareholder Resolution approved by the Advisory Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (ACCSR)
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Resolution:
Adopt Human Rights Policies (2006)
WHEREAS:
We believe transnational corporations operating in countries
with repressive governments, weak rule of law, endemic
corruption, child exploitation, or poor labor standards face
serious risks to their reputation and share value if they are
seen as responsible for, or complicit in, human rights
violations.
We commend our company for developing and implementing a Business Conduct Guide and a Code of Ethics.
We remain concerned that Costa Rica, where our company
operates, is listed as a country where abuse of children and
child prostitution is a serious problem (US Department of State,
2004:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41755.htm).
In 1999, two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) - Casa Alianza and Global March Against Child Labour (GMACL) reported on sexual exploitation of minors conducted at several hotels in San José, including the Marriott. Following criminal investigation, a Costa Rican was convicted for aggravated pimping of minors and sentenced to serve eight years in prison. The man appealed the verdict to the Supreme Court (GMACL, 1999; Casa Allianza, 1999). In 2002 the Supreme Court in San José dismissed the defendant’s appeal. A sworn witness’ statement from the trial elucidated the network comprised of hotel receptionists - including Marriott receptionists (Agencia Tercera Fiscal de San José, 1997). Victims reported having been brought to clients in the Marriott and other San José hotels (Poder Judicial, 1997; GMACL, 1999).
In 2003, ECPAT, the World Tourism Organization – initiated project, funded by the United Nations Childrens Fund, created a "Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism" ( http://www.thecode.org/ ), applying to suppliers of tourism services worldwide.
In 1996 the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), recognizing that child sex abusers may attempt to use hotels as the location where they commit their crimes, passed a resolution condemning the sexual exploitation of children and recommending all members to consider measures to prevent use of their premises for commercial sexual exploitation of children. IH&RA encourages members to sign the 2003 Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel & Tourism. ("Health & Society: Combating the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children", IH&RA) Marriott is a member of the IH&RA. Signatories to the Code include Carlson Hotels and Accor Hotels.
We believe significant commercial advantages may accrue to our company by adopting a comprehensive human rights policy which would serve to enhance corporate reputation, improve community and stakeholder relations, and reduce risk of adverse publicity, consumer boycotts, divestment campaigns and lawsuits.
RESOLVED:
The shareholders request the Board of Directors to adopt a
policy prohibiting the sexual exploitation of minors on
company’s premises, and to prepare a report by December 2006 and
made available to shareholders concerning the implementation of
this policy, prepared at reasonable cost and omitting
proprietary information.
Supporting Statement:
We believe our company's human rights policy should be
comprehensive, transparent, verifiable and based on the
provisions contained in the "The Code of Conduct for the
Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and
Tourism" and provide training of all company's employees on the
policy.
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