Simple, transparent and evidence-based.
These rules explain the essential requirements for obtaining and maintaining a BEQUAL certification.
Draft for validation. The final legal entity, participating auditors and effective date will be added before publication.
1. Purpose
BEQUAL recognises organisations whose commitments across multiple areas of diversity and social inclusion are supported by valid third-party certifications.
2. Eligible supporting certifications
A supporting certification must be valid, verifiable, issued by a competent public authority or eligible independent certification body, and relevant to at least one BEQUAL area. Awards, memberships, self-declarations and unverified commitments are not accepted as certifications.
3. Certification levels
- BEQUAL: verified coverage in two areas.
- BEQUAL Silver: verified coverage in three areas.
- BEQUAL Gold: verified coverage in four areas.
4. Documentary verification
An accredited auditor reviews the issuer, validity, organisational scope and relevance of each supporting certificate. BEQUAL does not repeat the audits conducted for those certifications.
5. Validity
BEQUAL is valid for three years, subject to the continued validity of the supporting certifications. The certified organisation must inform BEQUAL of any expiry, suspension, withdrawal or material change affecting that evidence.
6. Renewal
Renewal requires confirmation that the supporting certifications remain valid and continue to cover the areas associated with the BEQUAL level.
7. Suspension or withdrawal
BEQUAL may revise, suspend or withdraw a certification when supporting evidence expires or is withdrawn, false or misleading information is identified, or the certification mark is used outside its authorised scope.
8. Use of the mark
The BEQUAL mark may only be used by the certified legal entity, during the period of validity and in accordance with the level awarded. It must not be used to imply certification of activities, entities or sites outside the verified scope.
9. Verification
Each issued certificate includes a unique identifier and QR code linking to its current verification record.