Supporting human rights and fundamental freedoms

Thales actively participates in major initiatives aimed at the continuous improvement of practices and standards in ethical conduct and corporate responsibility, through an open and constructive dialogue with public authorities, its peers, partners, and civil society.

Active role in continuously improving practices and international standards

In 2009, we led the development of the Global Principles of Business Ethics as part of a joint effort by the ASD (Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe) and the AIA (Aerospace Industries Association of America). The Global Principles set high standards for all companies working in the aerospace and defence sectors in Europe and America. Thales is now an active participant in the International Forum on Business Ethical Conduct (IFBEC), which was set up to promote these new standards around the world.

Thales also advocated for the globalisation of arms trade controls during the negotiations that led to the adoption of the UN Arms Trade Treaty in April 2013 (in force on 24 December 2014).

We also helped draft the Innovative SME Charter in France, which focuses on sustainable procurement and encourages major companies to support innovation projects by small and medium-sized businesses.

Thales is involved in major international initiatives led by bodies such as the OECD (OECD Good Practice Guide), the ASD (Common Industry Standards) and the United Nations (UN Forum on Business and Human Rights).

Since 2015, Thales’s CSR policy has been aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), seven of which are considered especially relevant to the Group. Thales signed the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) in 2003 and has reaffirmed its support for its 10 principles every year since then. In doing so, the Group has committed to demonstrating ethical leadership and good governance, investing in addressing systemic inequalities and injustices, and partnering with the UN, government and civil society to strengthen access to justice, ensure accountability and transparency, provide legal certainty, promote equality and respect human rights.

In September 2020, Thales signed the Statement from Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation introduced by the United Nations Global Compact at the opening of the UN’s 75th General Assembly.

Thales considers the human rights impact of its activities. Since 2019, the Group is an active member of "Enterprises pour les Droits de L’Homme" (Businesses for Human Rights), a forum for discussion, initiatives and proposals by international companies to promote improved integration of human rights into business policies and practices through due diligence procedures. We engage with a broad range of stakeholders as a member of several working groups.

In the defence sector, Thales UK contributed within ADS to drafting the UK Defence ESG Charter published in 2024, to promote and ensure the sector’s key role in security, prosperity and stability. In France, Thales is a member of the Gicat CSR commission, which aims to spread best CSR practices among industry companies.

Thales ensures compliance with the statutory provisions in force in each of its countries of operation, including rules on decent pay, rest time, working hours and paid annual leave. Thales uses dedicated tools to monitor its compliance with such provisions. Working conditions are routinely discussed with employee representative bodies.

Responsible policy on controversial weapons

In accordance with the commitment made in 2019, Thales has fully stopped producing, selling and delivering any military equipment containing white phosphorus since June 30, 2022.
 

Thales does not produce or sell any so-called "controversial" weapons in accordance with the criteria defined by EU Regulation 2019/2088 of November 27, 2019 on sustainability disclosure in the financial services sector (SFDR). 

Thales therefore does not design, manufacture or sell chemical or biological weapons, which are banned under the Geneva Conventions.

In addition, Thales does not design, manufacture or sell anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions or any of their component parts, in accordance with the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (the Ottawa Treaty, 1997) and the Oslo Convention (2008).

Furthermore, Thales does not design, produce or sell nuclear weapons. 

Finally, aware of the controversies related to white phosphorus, since 2019 Thales has been engaged in a substitution program that aims to develop a new generation of smoke materials without white phosphorus. Since June 30, 2022, and in accordance with the commitment made in 2019, Thales has ceased producing, selling and delivering military equipment using white phosphorus.