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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
7.02.2003 ET
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United Nations Global Compact Announces Milestone: 1,000 Businesses Now Participating
Annual Report Illustrates How Companies, Labour and Civil Society Are Working Together to Advance Corporate Citizenship
(CSRwire) Office of the Global Compact – The United Nations Global
Compact today announced that more than 1,000 companies from around the
world are participating in the initiative, working with international
labour, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to advance nine
principles in the areas of human rights, labour and the environment.
The number of participating organizations is contained in the Global
Compact’s annual Report on Progress and Activities, which was
officially released today at a press conference at UN Headquarters. The
report provides a comprehensive overview of the Global Compact’s
operations during the July 2002-July 2003 fiscal year.
"The idea of a Global Compact – first articulated in a speech by
Secretary-General Kofi Annan in January 1999 – is today very much
alive", said Georg Kell, Executive Head of the Global Compact. "From its
inception, the Global Compact has operated on the premise that finding
solutions to make markets more sustainable and inclusive can only be
achieved if societal actors learn how to work effectively together".
The report includes the following highlights for the year:
The number of participating companies doubled from approximately 500
to more than 1,000 during the year; over half of the companies are from
the developing world.
The Global Compact was launched in 14 countries, bringing to 53 the
number of countries where the Global Compact has taken root.
Dozens of partnership projects in support of the Global Compact have
been inspired.
Global labour increased its involvement, while civil society also
continued to play a crucial role as participants in a range of activities.
By year-end, more than 20 civil society organizations were engaged at the
global level, with many more at the local.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) was
welcomed as the Global Compact’s fifth core agency, responsible for
small- and medium-sized enterprises. The other four agencies involved are:
OHCHR, ILO, UNDP and UNEP.
A revised strategic approach was adopted whereby companies are asked
to publish a "Communication on Progress" in their annual reports and/or
other prominent reports to increase transparency and public
accountability.
A number of major policy dialogues were convened – involving
hundreds of participants from business, labour and civil society –
and outputs were realized. Topics included Business and Sustainable
Development; HIV/AIDS; Supply Chain Management; and Partnerships.
An initiative to grow sustainable business in the world’s Least
Developed Countries was launched and tangible action was taken in Ethiopia,
with activities planned for Madagascar, Angola, Bangladesh and Cambodia.
"While these are promising developments, the Global Compact remains an
ambitious experiment in the possibilities of multi-stakeholder
cooperation", said Mr. Kell. "The Global Compact must strive to ensure
that its principles are translated into practices and actions that
ultimately make a difference in the lives of the poor".
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