From
Awareness to Action on the Global Goals
UN
Human Rights Council Reaffirms Guiding Principles on Business and
Human Rights
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The
Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
Corporate
sustainability starts with a company’s value system and a
principles-based approach to doing business. This means operating
in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in
the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
Responsible businesses enact the same values and principles wherever
they have a presence, and know that good practices in one area do
not offset harm in another. By incorporating the Ten Principles
of the UN Global Compact into strategies, policies and procedures,
and establishing a culture of integrity, companies are not only
upholding their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but
also setting the stage for long-term success.
The Ten Principles
of the United Nations Global Compact are derived from: the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work, the
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the
United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
Human
Rights
Principle
1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally
proclaimed human rights; and
Principle
2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labour
Principle
3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the
effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle
4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
Principle
5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
Principle
6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment
and occupation.
Environment
Principle
7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental
challenges;
Principle
8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility;
and
Principle
9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally
friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption
Principle
10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms,
including extortion and bribery.
Key
Documents
UN
Global Compact Brochure
After
the Signature – An Introduction to the Global Compact
2011
Global Compact Implementation Survey: Annual Review of Business
Policies and Actions to Advance Sustainability
Global
Compact Annual Review – 2010
Global
Compact Annual Review – Anniversary Edition
The
Importance of Voluntarism
Core
UN Agencies
Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Environment Programme
International Labour Organization
United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Industrial Development
Organization
United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime
United Nations Entity for Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of Women
Overview
of the UN Global Compact
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative
for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and
strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas
of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. By doing
so, business, as a primary driver of globalization, can help ensure
that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that
benefit economies and societies everywhere.
As social, political
and economic challenges (and opportunities) — whether occurring
at home or in other regions — affect business more than ever before,
many companies recognize the need to collaborate and partner with
governments, civil society, labour and the United Nations.
This ever-increasing
understanding is reflected in the Global Compact's rapid growth.
With over 10,000 corporate participants and other stakeholders from
over 130 countries, it is the largest voluntary corporate responsibility
initiative in the world.
Endorsed by
chief executives, the Global Compact is a practical framework for
the development, implementation, and disclosure of sustainability
policies and practices, offering participants a wide spectrum of
workstreams, management tools and resources — all designed to help
advance sustainable business models and markets. (See How to Participate.)
The UN Global
Compact works toward the vision of a sustainable and inclusive global
economy which delivers lasting benefits to people, communities,
and markets.
To
help realize this vision, the initiative seeks to:
Mainstream the Global Compact’s Ten Principles in business
strategy and operations around the world; and
Catalyze business action in support of UN goals and issues, with
emphasis on collaboration and collective action.
With these objectives in mind, the Global Compact has shaped an
initiative that provides collaborative solutions to the most fundamental
challenges facing both business and society. The initiative seeks
to combine the best properties of the UN, such as moral authority
and convening power, with the private sector’s solution-finding
strengths, and the expertise and capacities of a range of key stakeholders.
The Global Compact is global and local; private and public; voluntary
yet accountable.
The
benefits of engagement include the following:
Adopting an established and globally recognized policy framework
for the development, implementation, and disclosure of environmental,
social, and governance policies and practices.
Sharing best and emerging practices to advance practical solutions
and strategies to common challenges.
Advancing sustainability solutions in partnership with a range of
stakeholders, including UN agencies, governments, civil society,
labour, and other non-business interests.
Linking business units and subsidiaries across the value chain with
the Global Compact's Local Networks around the world — many of these
in developing and emerging markets.
Accessing the United Nations' extensive knowledge of and experience
with sustainability and development issues.
Utilizing UN Global Compact management tools and resources, and
the opportunity to engage in specialized workstreams in the environmental,
social and governance realms.
A more detailed analysis of the benefits of participation in the
Global Compact can be found in The Importance of Voluntarism — which
also focuses on the importance of the Global Compact as a complement
rather than substitute for regulatory regimes
Finally, the
Global Compact incorporates a transparency and accountability policy
known as the Communication on Progress (COP). The annual posting
of a COP is an important demonstration of a participant's commitment
to the UN Global Compact and its principles. Participating companies
are required to follow this policy, as a commitment to transparency
and disclosure is critical to the success of the initiative. Failure
to communicate will result in a change in participant status and
possible expulsion.
In summary,
the Global Compact exists to assist the private sector in the management
of increasingly complex risks and opportunities in the environmental,
social and governance realms, seeking to embed markets and societies
with universal principles and values for the benefit of all.
Foundation
for the Global Compact
A non-profit entity, the Foundation for the Global Compact has been
established to support the work of the United Nations Global Compact
Office and other Global Compact related activities. It has been
given permission to raise funds on behalf of the Global Compact
Office. Contributions are voluntary but will help the Global Compact
Office to raise awareness of the Global Compact, its principles
and how to implement them. Resources provided by the Foundation
will be used to defray the costs of Global Compact activities such
as events, publication, translation and tools, and thereby help
to ensure the sustainability and greatest reach of the initiative,
as well as help foster the scaling-up of its impact. More information
about the Foundation, including current funding priorities and how
to give, is available at www.globalcompactfoundation.org
Website
The
UN Global Compact’s multi-year strategy to drive business awareness
and action in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
by 2030
UN
Global compact Governance
Tools
and Resources
The following
material covers several issues in addition to the four principle
areas (Human Rights, Labour, Environment, Anti-Corruption). Additional
guidance material for implementing the UN Global Compact principles
can be found under their respective sections. To obtain copies of
any publication please contact globalcompact@un.org
General
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