CHALLENGE: QUALCOMM SOUGHT TO ASSESS ITS HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS ITS OVERALL APPROACH TO MANAGING HUMAN RIGHTS. IN DOING SO, THE COMPANY WAS FOCUSED ON ADVANCING ITS 2030 SUSTAINABILITY VISION AND MORE EFFECTIVELY RESPONDING TO STAKEHOLDER INQUIRIES.

It was such a pleasure to work with Article One on this project, which is a key milestone in support of Qualcomm’s 2030 Sustainability Vision. Article One’s expertise, professionalism and attention to detail are unparalleled and very much contributed to the success of our first formal corporate HRIA.
— Elisabeth Best, Sustainability Manager

APPROACH

Qualcomm Incorporated collaborated with Article One to better understand its human rights impacts, optimize the management of potential risks and maximize opportunities to advance human rights through the use of technology.

PHASE 1: HUMAN RIGHTS RISK MAPPING

First, Article One mapped internationally accepted human rights relevant to Qualcomm across its value chain. Through interviews with company leaders and external experts, as well as reviews of emerging standards and industry-specific considerations, Article One surfaced the most salient human rights impacts and opportunities for Qualcomm’s unique business model and operating context.

PHASE 2: GAP ANALYSIS

Article One then conducted a gap analysis to determine opportunities to enhance management of salient human rights across the company. The analysis resulted in a three-year roadmap focused on activities in four key areas – governance, people, supply chain and products – to further Qualcomm’s goal of integrating respect for human rights into key business decisions.

IMPACT

As a result of the project, Qualcomm has proactively defined human rights priorities based on its unique business context. In addition, the project has had the following outcomes:

  1. Advancement of the 2030 Sustainability Vision to ensure respect for human rights is integrated into key business decisions.
  2. Increased awareness and understanding of human rights across the company.
  3. Identified key opportunities to enhance management of the company’s most salient human rights issues.
  4. Formalized an internal working group to support the three-year action plan.