Novo Nordisk is committed to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as part of our social responsibility.

Novo Nordisk has conducted a review of our performance against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and concluded that our focus areas for the coming years will be: 

• The right to health, including access to health in diabetes care
• Equal opportunities and diversity. 

Our relation to human rights has a double perspective: 

Firstly, we are present in a series of human rights violating countries. The primary ethical argument for being present and remaining in a certain country is that we can document our positive contribution to human rights in the society, thereby improving the situation. 

Secondly – and supporting the first perspective – human rights standards, primarily due to their universal status and broad coverage, can help inform and guide our socially responsible initiatives. Most leading edge companies and reporting initiatives on Corporate Social Responsibility increasingly focus on human rights.

Internally, we are not focusing on a strict rights and compliance-based implementation, but on more proactive strategies that are likely to add value. Hence, the human right of non-discrimination will be addressed by equal opportunities and diversity, enabling Novo Nordisk not only to live up to our values, but also to be the preferred employer by all groups in society, to attract employees internationally, to enhance internationalisation and to expand our intellectual capital based on networks. 

• An analysis of Novo Nordisk and Human Rights, 1999. 
• Field study to Novo Nordisk’s site in Bangalore, 1999-2000. 
• Field study to Novo Nordisk's site in Kalundborg, 1999-2000. 
• Field study to Novo Nordisk’s site in Clayton, 2000.

As a transnational company, the reasons for supporting human rights are manifold: 

Respecting, protecting, fulfilling and promoting Human Rights globally will contribute to a more sustainable world in social terms, thereby enhancing our TBL approach and increasing our potential markets. 

The human rights standards are the only set of standards on the treatment of people that are globally recognized and accepted, thus preventing undue “cultural imperialism” when operating internationally. 

The human rights standards have been developed during the past fifty years and as such form a good basis for making values operational. 

Most NGOs addressing the problematic parts of globalisation and business base their approach on human rights issues and understanding. 

The majority of criticism of corporate conduct relates directly or in-directly to human rights violations – thus addressing companies impairing the enjoyment of human rights below the international threshold. A human rights focus enhances adequate risk management.