Human Rights Due Diligence
We have established a human rights due diligence framework and are actively engaged in addressing human rights issues.
Mizuho's human rights management system
Mizuho has put in place a framework to promote initiatives for respecting human rights in line with the UNGPs. Specifically, under the policy, we have established a human rights due diligence process and grievance mechanism, implement the identification and assessment of salient human rights issues, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts, implement monitoring of the response status and ensure transparency though public disclosure. We are also enhancing the effectiveness of policies, HRDD and remediation through stakeholder engagement.
Human rights due diligence approach (PDF/1,922KB)
Our Employees
We provide a healthy and safe working environment for our employees. We are also committed to offering equal employment opportunities to all and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, and do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind. We have established a Human Rights Education Committee, and will work diligently to enhance the awareness of each employee with respect to our own rights and those of others.
Elevating individual employees' capabilities
Promoting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Pursuit of employee well-being
Our Clients
We recognize that, as a financial services provider, we can contribute to or be linked with adverse human rights impacts by way of our business relationships in every sector. We strive to perform adequate due diligence to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts associated with our business operations, using our leverage where appropriate. We perform enhanced due diligence whenever we find any human rights issues in a business partner.
Performance of enhanced due diligence (PDF/1,922KB)
We are committed to protecting the privacy of our clients and promoting responsible financing that takes into consideration social and environmental impacts.
Responsible financing and investment
Taking into Consideration the Effect on Human Rights at the Time of New Taking into consideration the impact on human rights at the time of new product and service development
At the time of new product and service development, Mizuho takes steps to assess potential impacts on human rights. We have put in place a mechanism that, in case a risk is identified as a result of this assessment, prevents the introduction of the new product or service until appropriate action to address the risk has been completed. In addition, we periodically select existing products and services meeting established criteria for review in terms of human rights.
Procedures to oversee advertising and promotional materials
Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking, and Mizuho Securities check external advertising, promotional materials, and in–house corporate communication magazines to ensure that there are no issues and that the information disclosed does not negatively impact human rights. In the event that an issue is uncovered, there is a structure in place to oversee and confirm that all appropriate remedial action is taken.
Our Suppliers
We regularly assess suppliers' adherence to their responsibility to respect human rights. At Mizuho, we have established a Procurement Policy in order to enhance responsible procurement, which emphasizes ESG perspectives. The policy clarifies our basic approach to procurement and our requirements for suppliers from the perspectives of consideration for the environment (E); respect for human rights (S); and compliance and information management (G).
We provide our Procurement Policy, Human Rights Policy, and Environmental Policy to our primary suppliers and ask them to familiarize themselves with the contents. For certain suppliers, we also confirm the status of their response to human rights issues. We will continue to strengthen initiatives for ensuring respect of human rights within our supply chain.
Responsible procurement
Mizuho's business operations are supported by the cooperation of suppliers providing office supplies, IT systems, outsourcing, and other goods and services.
Mizuho recognizes that procurement operations entail the risk of causing adverse human rights impacts with respect to suppliers' employees, as well as to the environment and society. We have established a Procurement Policy, which clarifies our respect for human rights within procurement operations. The policy also establishes supplier compliance items in the Supplier Guiding Principles, for which we request the understanding and cooperation of all suppliers.
The policy clarifies our basic approach to procurement and our requirements for suppliers from the perspectives of consideration for the environment (E); respect for human rights (S); and compliance and information management (G).
Based on this policy, we are practicing responsible procurement and urging our suppliers to pursue ESG initiatives in their business operations. In doing so, we aim to contribute to the development of a sustainable society together with our suppliers.