Today, PolicyLink, CapEQ, and an independent Civil Rights Audit Standards Committee have released the first-ever Civil Rights Audit Standards for U.S. businesses, setting a new benchmark for examining bias and discrimination risks across the enterprise.

Born out of broad stakeholder interest in corporations upholding and advancing equitable policies and practices, the Civil Rights Audit Standards provide the much-needed guidance for businesses to conduct meaningful independent audits that win the trust of their stakeholders and advance responsible business practices. 

 

The Civil Rights Audit Standards Committee, which developed the standards, is composed of civil rights experts, investors, worker advocates, and business executives. Grounded in principles of nondiscrimination, the Standards take the guesswork out of conducting a civil rights audit — from the scope of an audit to the qualifications of the independent auditor and meaningfully conducting stakeholder engagement.

Join PolicyLink, CapEQ, Farhana Khera (lead drafter of the Standards), and Committee members today for our launch webinar at 11:30 a.m. ET — register here.  We will introduce the Standards, share how they connect to other leading efforts, and preview how they will be implemented over time, including through a civil rights auditor training program.

In the face of increasing headwinds, it is more important than ever to support businesses in meeting the expectations of stakeholders and meaningfully advancing anti-discriminatory business practices. We hope you join us on this journey.