UPS has fulfilled one of its 2009 objectives, as reported in the 2008 Sustainability Report. The objective was to adopt and implement a human rights statement. In July, Human Rights was added as a section of the UPS Code of Conduct and communicated to employees.

The Code provides information about our standards of integrity and explains our legal and ethical responsibilities. Adherence to the Code is required of all employees and representatives of UPS. Human rights language already has been added to the UPS Policy Book and language relating to Human Rights compliance will be included in all future non-U.S. supplier contracts.

Here is an excerpt of the language in the Code of Conduct:  

Human Rights

"As a global company, UPS recognizes that it plays a role in acknowledging basic human rights in accordance with our high standards for the treatment of our people.

Basic human rights address areas such as equality among people, employee well-being and security, personal freedom from persecution, and economic, social and cultural freedom. Human rights principles have been generally defined by the United Nations, which has created a Global Compact to address these rights.

While the values underlying the U.N. Global Compact's Human Rights Principles are found throughout this Code, the company believes that the concept of basic human rights should be specifically recognized, and as a result, supports the U.N. Global Compact's Human Rights Principles."