Human rights

Human rights

When it comes to human rights, we are committed to the principles of the UN Global Compact:

Principle 1:

Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and

Principle 2:

Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Our ambitions

At Gorrissen Federspiel we want all employees, clients and business partners to feel that they are working in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits discriminatory behaviour and harassment. As a provider of highly specialised legal advice regarding strategic compliance and CSR, Gorrissen Federspiel plays a distinct role in safeguarding and protecting human rights. Our advice also extends to employee conditions at our international business partners, including issues such as freedom of association and the prohibition of forced labour and child labour. We also want to use our legal skills and our position within Danish business to support companies and organisations that work to prevent violation of human rights. As a guideline for our pro bono projects, we have chosen to focus our efforts on the rule of law as well as the education and development of young people in Denmark and abroad. We have done this so as to utilise our specific skills and competencies in the most effective way possible.

The importance of focusing on human rights

It is not everywhere in the world where human rights are embedded as a matter of course, and as a social actor with law as the cornerstone of our business we are continually conscious that we have a responsibility to protect and uphold human rights. We see no significant human rights risks in relation to either our business activities or relationships. We do, however, expect our clients, business partners and suppliers to comply with all applicable conventions in this area, and we are continually aware of our responsibility for strong ethical conduct when selecting business partners and suppliers and entering into client relationships. As an employer we focus on diversity and inclusion (D&I). All employees should feel that they are treated with respect and have equal opportunities to succeed in their jobs. Today our employees expect more from their workplace, including in relation to CSR. It is imperative for us to be an inclusive workplace to ensure that we continue attracting and retaining the best talent in the sector.

Objectives for 2021

Our objective was to continue our work to help safeguard the rule of law in Denmark and to continue to focus our efforts on the education and development of children and young people in Denmark and abroad. It was also our objective to draft a detailed D&I policy.

Progress in 2021 and expectations of continued development

Throughout the course of 2021 we continued our support for organisations and our involvement in pro bono projects focused on the rule of law as well as children and young people in Denmark. As in previous years we continued to assist in the preparation of consultation responses to legislative bills under the auspices of the Association of Danish Law Firms and the Danish Bar and Law Society. We also continued our involvement in a number of initiatives from previous years. In 2021 we once again hosted a bootcamp organised by non-profit organisation Project Access, which helps Danish high school students apply to the university of their dreams. 28 Danish students took part in the Bootcamp, which ran over the course of a weekend. Our support in 2021 for the Human Practice Foundation consisted of a financial contribution to support the Indre Styrke (Inner Strength) project, which will be rolled out to include an even greater number of school pupils in Denmark who are unsettled and have difficulty school. We also helped to put in place the legal framework of an agreement between 1000 Nepalese coffee farmers and Hagen Espresso Bars that will affect the livelihoods of 3,500 Nepalese families. We also supported a number of organisations through donations, as well as continuing our ongoing commitments to, among other initiatives, the Forælder Fonden (the ‘Parent Foundation’) and Mission Afrika. In 2021 Gorrissen Federspiel launched a detailed D&I policy which formally set out existing practices. Through the policy we are commited to creating a working culture in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity. 2021 was also the year in which Gorrissen Federspiel established the firm’s first D&I committee, with employees from across the organisation. The committee meets three to four times a year to discuss diversity-related issues such as recruitment, equal opportunities, quotas and role models.

Aims for 2022

We will continue to focus attention on pro bono work within our two focus areas, namely the rule of law and education and development of children and young people in Denmark and abroad. In the context of our new D&I committee, we will continue to work on strengthening the firm in all areas of diversity and inclusion. It is also our ambition to assess the need for specific actions to support LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion. SDGs

Objective attained

Fully