Human rights governance

While all relevant human rights risks need to be considered and addressed, Ericsson prioritizes the identified salient human rights issues when developing strategies and proactive actions to prevent adverse human rights impacts. Ericsson’s Responsible Sourcing Human Rights strategy includes activities such as supplier capacity building, audits and improvement programs, risk and impacts assessments, policy implementation, stakeholder dialogue and engagement, and benchmarking. The strategy is continuously evaluated and updated based on results and learnings from these activities.

The strategy is managed in tight collaboration with the Ericsson Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility team. Progress and targets are regularly reviewed by Ericsson’s Executive Team. We also collaborate with external parties such as civil society organizations, customers and suppliers, industry peers and experts in order to develop the area.

Every year a high-level Human Rights risk assessment is performed based on the type of good or service sourced, and activities associated to it. Examples of sourced goods where Human Rights are relevant include:

• Network Hardware, e.g. Semiconductors, Printed Circuit Boards, Filters
• Site Products; Installation Material & Antennas
• Logistics, Freights and Warehousing
• IT: Servers and Storage
• Facility Management

Not only 1st tier suppliers

We acknowledge the fact that our identified salient human rights risks are not limited to the 1^st tier of our supply chain. The risks are often enhanced and more prevalent further upstream. We therefore engage key 1^st tier suppliers in activities such as trainings and surveys, to reach further upstream where the risks are most severe. In order to effectively address human rights risks in our supply chain we believe in a close collaboration with our suppliers. We strive to develop this way of working in order to reach tiers and workers most at risk.

Understanding best practices

Through continues benchmarking and dialogue with suppliers, customers, industry and civil society organizations, affected stakeholders, experts etc. we develop our policies and practices to be a leader on human rights issues. These learnings are then used in the development and implementation of human rights strategies and activities.

Statements and policies

Ericsson has multiple statements and policies relating to human rights in our supply chain, listed here in no particular order.

• Ericsson’s Code of Conduct for business partners
  Covers the area of human rights for all business partners of Ericsson
• Ericsson’s Business and human rights statement
  Clarifies Ericsson’s commitment, as described in our Code of Business Ethics and our Code of Conduct for Business Partners, to internationally recognized human rights and explains how Ericsson works to embed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) throughout our business operations
• Ericsson's Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
  Annually published statement in line with the UK Modern Slavery Act describing how the Ericsson Group is tackling the challenge of modern slavery and human trafficking throughout its operations and supply chain.
• Ericsson’s Conflict Minerals Report
  As a publicly traded company in the US Ericsson annually publishes a Conflict Minerals Report.