Respect for Human Rights

Based on its Management Philosophy that we contribute to the world by fighting disease and improving health with advanced technology, Nihon Kohden Group strive to contribute to the world through our business activities.
The Nihon Kohden Charter of Conduct, which the Company and its executive officers and employees have a duty to abide by, states that we have respect for human rights at all times. The Nihon Kohden Code of Ethics and Conduct sets out the ethical and responsible actions we will take to guarantee respect for human rights. In July 2015, Nihon Kohden signed the UN Global Compact. We are committed to contributing to a sustainable society through promoting initiatives in accordance with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact in the four areas of human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption.
In recent years, the globalization of corporate activities has increased public interest in corporate human rights initiatives. At Nihon Kohden, we consider it extremely important to respect the human rights of our stakeholders, and in December 2020 we established the Nihon Kohden Group Human Rights Policy. By following the policy and promoting initiatives to respect human rights, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

As children are socially vulnerable and their rights are easily violated, special protection and care must be prepared for them. It is important that the entire society supports them by recognizing that they have the same rights as adults so that they can expand their future possibilities and grow up healthy.
In support of the UN and ILO conventions~{*} on children’s rights, Nihon Kohden respects the rights of children by not allowing child labor. The Nihon Kohden Group Human Rights Policy defines our basic approach to respecting the human rights of all people, including children. The Nihon Kohden Sustainable Procurement Standards explicitly state that we pledge not to engage in child labor, and we are working to prevent the labor of anyone under the minimum working age throughout our value chain, including our business partners.
In addition to supporting the Children’s Rights and Business Principles (CRBP), Nihon Kohden provides products and services that contribute to the protection of children’s rights and ensure their safety through its business activities. To protect the right to life under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we have developed and provided electrodes and sensors that are gentle enough for the delicate skin of low-birthweight infants to support their health and growth.
We will continue our efforts to protect children’s rights by providing electrodes with friendly designs that reduce the anxiety of children suffering from illness and by promoting the adoption of our resuscitation monitor for neonates to reduce the mortality rate and incidence of serious sequela in newborn babies.

The NRM-1300
Resuscitation monitor for neonate, BreathCue

Nihon Kohden has established a human rights due diligence structure to identify, prevent, and mitigate negative impacts on human rights. In FY2022, based on the results of a questionnaire survey about the environment, human rights, quality, and governance conducted at Nihon Kohden Group companies in Japan and overseas, as well as at our suppliers, we evaluated human rights risks and identified key human rights issues, taking into account their impact on our business.
In FY2023, based on the survey results, we conducted additional fact-finding investigations and interviews with suppliers identified as having high human rights risks. Through these efforts, we confirmed future measures and proposed strategies to mitigate these risks. Additionally, we established a human rights consultation hotline for our suppliers and customers to receive consultation on human rights issues in the supply chain. Furthermore, we developed a roadmap for the next three years and set key performance indicators (KPIs) to guide our efforts.

Nihon Kohden promotes sustainability initiatives through our business activities by closely engaging with all stakeholders, including customers, shareholders and investors, business partners, local communities, and employees. Consequently, we anticipate a wide range of human rights risks, such as discrimination and harassment based on race or gender, excessive working hours, child labor, leakage of personal information, and environmental pollution.
We focused on approximately 30 human rights issues for impact assessment based on the United Nations Global Compact, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Stakeholder Engagement Program of the Caux Round Table Japan Committee, and the Handbook for Management that Respects Human Rights formulated by the Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN). In the FY2022 analysis, we evaluated these 30 human rights issues by stakeholder on two axes, severity^*1 and likelihood of occurrence^*2, based on the results of past questionnaire surveys.

As a result of the evaluation of the impact of approximately 30 human rights issues, we have identified “Excessive and unreasonable working hours” as well as “Sexual harassment, power harassment, and harassment related to pregnancy, childcare, and nursing care, etc.” as the Group’s key human rights issues. We will regularly reevaluate these critical human rights issues to prevent or mitigate negative impacts.
We recognize that items that were not identified as key human rights issues are also human rights issues that need to be monitored on an ongoing basis.
We also evaluated the impact of human rights issues on Customers/Patients, Local communities/Society, and Suppliers/Partners, and identified key human rights issues affecting these groups.

Identified human rights risks

As measures to reduce and mitigate human rights risks, we continue to monitor domestic and overseas Group companies and suppliers, as well as systematically work to reduce risks.
At domestic and overseas Group companies, we have promoted risk reduction efforts concerning “Excessive and unreasonable working hours” and “Sexual harassment, power harassment, and harassment related to pregnancy, childcare, and nursing care, etc,” which we have identified as key human rights issues. We have conducted additional fact-finding investigations and interviews for suppliers identified as having high risks to confirm future measures and proposed strategies to mitigate the risks.

As a measure to reduce and mitigate human rights risks, Nihon Kohden has conducted annual questionnaire survey and monitoring of Group companies and suppliers in Japan and overseas.
In FY2023, we identified suppliers with high risks based on the key human rights issues identified in FY2022 and the results of each questionnaire. We also have conducted additional fact-finding investigations and interviews with such suppliers, provided feedback on the results of the surveys, and discussed remedial measures to assist them in reducing risks.

In accordance with the Nihon Kohden Group Human Rights Policy, we are working to prevent all forms of discrimination and harassment.
In FY2023, no human rights violations or harassment leading to disciplinary dismissal from employment occurred.

Nihon Kohden’s human rights initiatives are discussed by the Sustainability Promotion Committee, which is chaired by the president, and the results of the discussions are reported to the Board of Directors. The Corporate Strategy Division and the Human Resources Department play a central role in the implementation of human rights initiatives within the Company.

Nihon Kohden is committed to eliminating discrimination against LGBT people, sexual minorities, and other social minorities as well as realizing a comfortable and fulfilling work environment that recognizes diversity.

Aiming to create an environment in which anyone can save a life by using an AED, Nihon Kohden has developed AEDs that can be used by people with hearing impairment or deafness, and people whose native language is not Japanese.
We have obtained the Ear Mark certification from the All Japan Association of Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened People (Zennancho) for our AEDs with color screens that display illustrations and messages so that they can be used by people with hearing impairment or deafness. Our AEDs are specified for use in schools for the deaf and hearing support schools, and we are also promoting their installation in municipalities and other institutions.
In Japan, where globalization is rapidly progressing, we have worked to promote the adoption of bilingual AEDs with voice prompts both in Japanese and English, and to create an environment in which foreign nationals can also use an AED to save a life in case of emergency.
The AED-3100 is optionally available in 17 languages^* and provides voice prompts alternately in Japanese and other languages. This AED is being increasingly

For the benefit of customers and employees from diverse religions, Nihon Kohden has set up a prayer room as well as a place for washing feet before prayers at the Tomioka Production Center.
This hospitality is very well-received by overseas customers who visit the factory.