2.27.2003 ET

(CSRwire) UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Global Compact reports several recent achievements and new initiatives including:

Egypt Meeting Leads to Support for Global Compact

The International Organization of Employers and the International Labour Organization organized a meeting that brought together officials from North African and Arab employers' organizations in Cairo from 3-5 February to discuss the Global Compact and its relevance for the region. The objective was to generate momentum for launching the Global Compact and setting up national networks in the region. The meeting concluded with the adoption of a comprehensive plan of action to create awareness and to initiate eeducational and training activities throughout the region in support of the Compact. (See www.unglobalcompact.org)

Global Compact and SustainAbility Hold Workshop at World Social Forum

On 25 January, the Global Compact and SustainAbility convened a workshop at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as part of a joint research project that is examining "The 21st Century NGO: Roles, Rules and Risks". The workshop was the first of several that will take place in coming months to address a wide range of questions about the future of NGOs that target the business community on sustainable development issues. A central objective of the project is to talk with leading activists, NGOs and foundations to understand how key segments of the non-profit world will evolve in the coming years. A comprehensive report, which is being produced in partnership with UNEP, will be published in June 2003. (See www.unglobalcompact.org)



Global Compact Launched in Bulgaria

Representatives of 48 businesses operating in Bulgaria gathered in Sofia on January 29 for the official launch of the Global Compact in Bulgaria. Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov delivered the opening address to the meeting of more than 250 participants. The forum, organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and eight Bulgarian business associations, provided an opportunity for panel discussions and best practice presentations by business leaders, government ministers, and UNDP officials. Both large and small enterprises used the gathering for sharing experiences. Several best practice case studies provided ample evidence that corporate social responsibility makes sense and leads to good results. (See www.unglobalcompact.org)



Global Compact Advisory Council Endorses Strategic Approach

On 16 January 2003, the Global Compact Advisory Council convened its third meeting, held at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting was chaired by U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette and brought together 20 members (or designated representatives) of the Advisory Council (AC)representing business, labour, civil society and academia. Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with council members during lunch. The meeting produced several important outcomes, including wide support for the new strategic approach, particularly that participating companies - in exchange for the Global Compact's elimination of the formal requirement of annual submissions - henceforth use their annual reports and/or other prominent public corporate reports (e.g., sustainability reports) to describe the actions taken in support of the Global Compact and all of its nine principles. (See www.unglobalcompact.org)


An Appeal to Action on HIV/AIDS

In the context of HIV/AIDS as a major threat to global development, the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, the Head of UNAIDS, and the Director-General of the ILO sent a joint letter to the CEOs of companies participating in the Global Compact stressing the importance of leadership and action in the fight with HIV/AIDS. This appeal to action will relate to planned activities of the Global Compact Learning Forum, see item below. (See www.unglobalcompact.org)



Learning Forum Invites Participants to Share Experiences on HIV/AIDS

One of the priority issues for the Global Compact in 2003 will be HIV/AIDS. The Learning Forum is inviting companies to share their experiences in the form of examples, projects and case studies. Academics are urged to look at HIV/AIDS and the workplace as a priority research topic and to present research papers to the Learning Forum. (To view information on this topic as well as other information related to the Learning Forum, see www.unglobalcompact.org)

The Global Compact is a corporate-citizenship initiative launched by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in July 2000. The Global Compact brings companies together with U.N. agencies, governments, international labor, civil-society organizations and other groups to advance nine principles in the areas of human rights, labour and the environment. For more information, (See www.unglobalcompact.org)

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