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For more information contact:
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| Michael Passoff |
| As You Sow Foundation |
| San Francisco, CA 94104 |
| Phone: (415) 391-3212, extension 32 |
| email: |
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| Conrad MacKerron |
| As You Sow Foundation |
| San Francisco, CA 94104 |
| Phone: (415) 391-3212, extension 31 |
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ExxonMobil
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FACT SHEET
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT — PROXY ITEM # 12
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For a printable 1 page pdf version of this fact sheet click here.
Human Rights Policy Review at ExxonMobil
| Symbol: XOM |
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Cusip: 30231G102 |
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AGM: Wednesday, May 28,2003 |
Why this Resolution is Necessary:
ExxonMobil’s failure to develop a comprehensive, transparent and independently monitored Human Rights Policy exposes the company to charges of complicity with human rights abuses that in turn can cause serious liabilities to the Company’s financial position and its reputation.
Human Rights and Shareholder Value:
ExxonMobil faces ongoing controversies with respect to its actual or perceived connection to human rights abuses, such as killings and torture by security forces that provide security for Exxon-Mobil’s facilities and surrounding communities, violations of indigenous peoples’ rights to traditional lands and livelihoods, and forced labor used in building company infrastructure.
ExxonMobil’s exposure to human rights risks has already led to interruption of its operations, brand damage and litigation.
INDONESIA: ExxonMobil is currently being sued in U.S. court for its alleged complicity in human rights abuses perpetrated by security forces contracted by the company in Aceh, Indonesia.
ExxonMobil was forced to shut down three of its liquid natural gas (LNG) fields in Aceh in 2001 due to civil unrest. The field was producing almost 500 million cubic feet per day at the time (XOM, 2Q 2001 report) - calculated loss of production is over 58 billion cubic feet of LNG. The situation in Aceh, "is on the verge of erupting into renewed bloodshed." (NY Times 4/30/03)
"The Exxon Mobil suit alleges that the oil giant directed Indonesian government security forces to murder, torture, rape and kidnap in the course of protecting a liquefied natural gas facility in a joint venture with Indonesia's state-owned oil and gas company." (Forbes Magazine 6/12/02)
CHAD: ExxonMobil is "leading a consortium of oil companies in developing a pipeline extending from Chad to Cameroon, both of which are known for rampant and serious human rights abuses." (Institutional Shareholder Services, 6/20/02)
The Chadian government has been criticized for systematic harassment and detention of local residents, journalists, and elected officials critical of the project. Chadian forces reportedly killed over 200 unarmed civilians in the Doba oil region.
ExxonMobil operates in the following countries cited for systemic human rights violations:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Cameroon
- Chad
- China / Tibet
- Columbia
- Equatorial Guinea
- Indonesia
- Kazakhstan
- Malaysia
- Nigeria
- Sudan
Industry Comparison:
Royal Dutch/Shell, BP, Amerada Hess, ConocoPhillips, Premier, Talisman, TotalFinaElf Unocal and many other energy, extractive and chemical companies have adopted human rights policies that explicitly reference the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ExxonMobil has not.
This Resolution:
- Does not bind ExxonMobil to a particular human rights policy; it asks management to review its current policies and report back its findings.
- Recommends that management consider new policies in keeping with industry standards. Improves transparency and entails negligible costs to implement.
- Demonstrates that management is serious about avoiding the risks of actual or perceived complicity in human rights abuses.
- Creates opportunities for industry leadership and positive community relations.
A human rights policy that is monitored and enforced represents prudent and inexpensive insurance against serious risks to the company’s reputation and business.
Resolution Co-filers:
Amnesty International USA; NY City Police Pension Fund; NY City Teachers’ Retirement System; AFL-CIO: Walden Asset Mgt; Boston Common Asset Mgt; Trillium Asset Mgt; Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters and seven other religious institutions affiliated with Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
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