As a purpose-led, performance-driven enterprise, VF strives to leverage the strength of its business to serve others.

VF’s focus on human rights is fueled by a commitment to work toward the betterment of people and our planet and be a force for good worldwide. At the same time, we know there’s much more that can and must be done to ensure that human rights are upheld throughout the global apparel and footwear industry.

In 2019, we formalized our Human Rights Commitment and outlined our approach to respecting internationally recognized human rights in our business conduct, in full alignment with the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGP) on Business and Human Rights and with the approval and oversight of the VF Board of Directors.

“Our commitment applies everywhere we do business, at every level of our company,” explained Julie Sutton, VF Senior Director, Government Affairs and Global Impact. “As we see it, our ability to mitigate social and environmental impacts within our value chain is an obligation. It’s what others expect of us, and what we expect of ourselves.”

In the 2020 Human Rights report, VF shares due diligence efforts, some lessons we’ve learned along the way, and a few stories about the lives we’ve touched. The report is aligned with the UNGP Reporting Framework and covers our human rights activities and interventions during 2019 and 2020.

Over the past two years, VF has identified gaps in our human rights efforts throughout our business that held the potential for negative impacts. And we continue to implement policies and processes across a range of human rights topics to address adverse impacts our business may have contributed to or caused.

We’ve made efforts, for example, to verify that exploitive recruitment practices in the VF supply chain do not exist, to combat gender-based violence and harassment, and tackle issues of racism and discrimination. And in support of those efforts, we’ve proudly endorsed the Women’s Empowerment Principles and the principles of the UN Global Compact.

Julie continued, “This report is an amalgamation of all the great work our teams have done across the global organization and demonstrates our leadership and commitment to bettering people and our planet by furthering human rights around the world.”