1. Purpose
   1. Mary’s Meals International (MMI) is committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our operations and implementing effective procedures and controls that aim to reduce the risk of modern slavery taking place anywhere in our organisation or in any of our supply chains.

 

2. Policy Statement
   1. MMI strictly prohibits the use of modern slavery and human trafficking in our operations. We expect our suppliers, partners and contractors to follow the same high standards.

 

3. Scope / Applicability
   1. This policy applies to MMI and Programme Affiliates.

 

4. Definition of Modern Slavery
   1. Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms; such as:-
      1. slavery,
      2. servitude,
      3. forced and compulsory labour, and
      4. human trafficking;

all of which have in common, the deprivation of a person's liberty by another, in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain.

 

5. Procedure
   1. MMI and Programme Affiliates are committed to identifying and mitigating the risk of modern slavery by:

• Carrying out relevant due diligence checks on partner organisations.
• Having in place a robust procurement manual that sets out requirements for buying goods and services.
• Building long-standing relationships with suppliers and contractors and making clear our expectations of business behaviour by issuing a copy of this policy with all relevant contracts and purchase orders.
• Having in place a robust Whistleblowing policy to encourage the reporting of concerns and the protection of whistle blowers.
• Building long-standing relationships with Programme Partners and having in place a partner specific Whistleblowing policy.

6. Roles and Responsibilities
   1. The MMI Board and Programme Affiliate Boards have overall responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations, and that all those working for or on behalf of MMI comply with it.
   2. Relevant managers have primary and day-to-day responsibility for implementing this policy, monitoring its use and effectiveness, dealing with any queries about it, and auditing internal control systems and procedures to ensure they are effective in countering modern slavery.
   3. Management at all levels are responsible for ensuring those reporting to them understand and comply with this policy.

 

7. Reporting and accountability
   1. The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our or organisation or supply chains is the responsibility of everyone across MMI and Programme Affiliates.
   2. Employees, volunteers and trustees are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy.
   3. Concerns or suspicions of modern slavery in any part of the organisation should be reported to the relevant line manager at the earliest possible stage and where this is not possible, the process set out in the Whistleblowing policy should be followed.
   4. MMI and Programme Affiliates reserve the right to terminate any relationship with third parties where there is a breach of anything se out in this policy.
8. Training and communication
   1. The procedures in this policy will be communicated to employees.
   2. Relevant employees may receive relevant training on how to adhere to this policy and how to ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our organisation and supply chains.
   3. MMI’s commitment to the prevention of modern slavery at all levels will be clearly communicated to all suppliers, contractors, business partners, Programme partners and any third-parties at the outset of business relations, and as appropriate thereafter.

 

9. Other relevant policies in MM suite
   1. MMI Whistleblowing Policy
   2. MMI Anti-Bribery & Corruption Policy
   3. Global Modern Slavery Policy
   4. Global Anti-Bribery & Corruption Policy
   5. Global Whistleblowing Policy

 

This policy will be reviewed every three years.