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From Awareness to Action on the Global Goals
UN Human Rights Council
Reaffirms Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights
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Important issues
Index
, Board , 10
principles , Governance
, Government Support
, Integrity Measures
, Tools & resources
, Global
Sustainability Report , The
Ten Principles
Sustainable
Development Goals , All
Our Work , What
You Can Do , Submit
your COP
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
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