Human Rights Due Diligence
We have established a human rights due diligence framework and are actively engaged in addressing human rights issues.
Human rights due diligence process
Human rights due diligence is a step-by-step process whereby adverse human rights impacts are identified, and then prevented or mitigated. We work to reduce and mitigate adverse human rights impacts by continuing to improve various policies and operations based on the approach outlined below.
Responding to adverse human rights impacts according to level of involvement
The way that Mizuho responds to adverse human rights impacts that have already occurred depends on the level of Mizuho’s involvement in the impact. We will remedy adverse impacts, and we will cooperate in the remediation of adverse impacts as per the appropriate process.
In line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, we seek to cooperate in the remediation of adverse impacts through legitimate processes, and where reasonable and appropriate, encourage our clients to prevent or mitigate any adverse impacts on human rights.
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.
Human Resources Vision and Policy
Human Rights Report 2023 "Initiatives for Ensuring Respect for Employees' Human Rights (PDF/3,653KB)"
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
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 Product and Service Development
At the time of new product and service development, Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Trust & Banking, and Mizuho Securities take steps to assess the impact of new activities and products on human rights. In the event that an issue is identified as a result of this assessment, these companies have put in place a system to prevent the undertaking of a new activity or release of a new product until all appropriate action to address the issue has been completed. In addition, they have established a system that periodically examines existing products and services based on established criteria from the point of view 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.
Our basic stance towards our suppliers is defined in the Mizuho Code of Conduct. Additionally, 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).
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.