Over the past year, several events reaffirmed the importance of human rights for our industry and our Company – and also reminded us that it is an extremely complex issue, and one that is constantly evolving. For example, the high incidence of violence against women in Cuidad Juarez, Mexico – where Ford has operations – caused us to consider what responsibility we have to help address public safety concerns, even when the human rights issue is not attributed to Ford or its suppliers. In Brazil, the use of one of our vehicles by a group accused of conducting discriminatory policing and using excessive force caused us to evaluate our responsibility in helping to ensure that our products are not used in ways for which they were not designed.
Finally, 2006 saw the discovery of the use of slave labor in Brazil to produce pig iron, one of the commodities used to make automobiles. When we learned of the situation, Ford immediately stopped sourcing from the site that was identified in the investigation and, subsequently, found a site in the United States for ongoing supply. We then identified all potential points of entry for pig iron in the Ford value chain. Finally, we sought to engage all suppliers identified as purchasing pig iron and asked for assurances from them that forced labor is not employed anywhere in their value chain. We also requested detail regarding their systems for safeguarding human rights throughout their operations. In addition, all Ford suppliers in Brazil are required to take training on working conditions in 2007. We will continue dialogue with supplier management globally to ensure that local labor laws are observed within supplier facilities and addressed in sub-tier supplier contracts.
These examples illustrate the complexities that arise when business and human rights issues intersect – when boundaries of responsibility are tested and spheres of influence for companies such as Ford must be explored. The examples also emphasize that while Ford's Code of Basic Working Conditions is a critical part of our efforts in this area, human rights nonetheless extends beyond the specific elements articulated in the Code. That is why we view our human rights efforts as an ongoing learning process, rather than a static set of policies and procedures.
The examples also underscore both our obligation to be sensitive to the issues of importance in the communities in which we operate and the critical need to engage with stakeholders. In each case, we sought to listen to and understand the concerns of stakeholders and respond in ways that were consistent with our values and our commitments on human rights.
