Electronics Watch is a non-profit organisation monitoring human rights and appropriate working conditions in the electronics supply chain. In line with its commitments to responsible public procurement, Charles University entered into a contractual cooperation with the organization in November 2024. Charles University is thus the first institution in Czechia to hold a partnership with Electronics Watch.

ICT purchases represent a significant item within the University’s public procurement, yet their supply chains, at all levels and across all manufacturing countries, face challenges related to human rights compliance, such as inadequate wages, missing safety measures, or forced labor. Monitoring and remedying these conditions, which are incompatible with Charles University’s ethical values, is a complex process; therefore, the University has turned to Electronics Watch (hereinafter “EW”) to carry it out.

This non-profit organization aims to leverage the influence of public procurement to promote and protect workers’ rights in global ICT supply chains. It does so by tapping into the underused potential that public contracts represent. Contracting authorities often either are unaware of the possibilities to assess bids using criteria other than price alone, or they lack suitable tools to enforce such requirements. EW therefore coordinates independent monitoring of supply networks and, when problematic cases are identified, offers affiliated partners appropriate options for seeking remediation.

Membership benefits

Membership in EW brings several benefits for the university. In the context of public procurement tenders, EW provides methodological support for integrating social aspects into all phases of the process, which can help prevent the purchase of electronics produced under inappropriate conditions. The supply chains of existing contracts are subject to monitoring, and the contracting authority receives regular reports on their status and, where applicable, on risks of human rights violations. Last but not least, members become part of an international platform that shares experiences and examples of good practice. It is precisely this connection of contracting authorities into a coherent collective that strengthens the enforceability of socially just practices by suppliers and their compliance with key labour standards.

Within Charles University, EW membership initially applies to the Rectorate’s public procurement, but on a voluntary basis it may be extended to the faculties and other parts of the university.