Certifications Red Flags
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our ​approach

​The 14 Red Flags

Click on each flag below to learn more.

Alignment with​International Standards

Scope

Audits

Grievance Mechanisms

Governance & Accountability 

1. No Explicit Reference to International Human Rights Standards or  
    Covers Some but Not All Salient Human Rights
2. No Explicit Role for Rights Holders in Standard Setting

3. No Requirement of Brands to Share Responsibility with Suppliers
4. Does Not Adequately Account for Vulnerable People
5. Does Not Adequately Account for Gender

6. Allows the Company or Supplier Being Audited to Pay Directly for
    and/or Choose the Auditor
7. No Requirement for Auditors to have Human Rights Competencies
    and Knowledge of the Local Context
8. Audits Not Carried Out in Person, Among Other Procedural
    Weaknesses 
9. Certification Granted Despite Insufficient Sample Size

10. No Grievance Mechanism at the Scheme Level and/or No
      Requirement for a Grievance Mechanism in the Standard
11. No Controls to Ensure the Effectiveness of the Grievance
       Mechanism in Providing Remedy

12. No or Poor Communication of the Certification Requirements to the
      Chain of Custody Participants
13. No Process to Suspend or Withhold Certification until Corrective
       Action Plans are Adopted and Implemented
​14. Does Not Make Information on Audits, Complaints, or Compliance
       Public