UN GLOBAL COMPACT BULLETIN

AUGUST 2009

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NEWS & UPDATES

1. Global Compact Board Convenes, Discusses Key Issues
   
2. G8 Welcomes Global Compact's Role in Advancing Responsible Business
   
3. Secretary-General Urges Young Entrepreneurs to Help Seal the Deal!
   
4. Principles for Responsible Investment Reports Progress in Key Areas
   
5. San Francisco Plans Global Compact Sustainability Center
   
6. Global Compact and ISO Clarify Position, Stress Complementarity
7. Norway Issues White Paper on Corporate Responsibility
8. Workshop in India Stresses Anti-Corruption Policies
9. Participant Status: New Signatories, COPs and Delistings

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

1. Seal the Deal: Take Steps to Promote Effective Climate Agreement in Copenhagen
2. CEO Letter on Anti-Corruption: Join the Campaign Today
   
3. HIV/AIDS, Health, Privacy and Non-discrimination: Dilemma Workbook and Case Studies
4. Combating Human Trafficking: Call for Examples
5. Corporate Values and Culture Project: Submit Your Company’s Values Statement
   
6. More Opportunities: GCLead Retreat, Caring for Climate, Vote Human Rights and more

FEATURED RESOURCES

1. Global Compact International Yearbook 2009
   
2. Principles for Responsible Investment: Report on Progress 2009
   
3. Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice: New Cases
   

EVENTS

1. Invitation: Training Sessions on Human Rights, Adaptation to Climate Change (4-5 November, Berlin)

August
4th Working Conference of the CEO Water Mandate (16-18 August, Stockholm)

September
2nd UN Private Sector Forum: Climate Change (22 September, New York)

October
Implementing Labour Principles in Global Supply Chains: ILO Training for Social Auditors (12-14 October, Turin)
GCLead Retreat – Crisis and New Scenarios for Global Compact Implementation (22–23 October, New York)

November
Why Responsible Business Conduct Matters: OECD-ESCAP Regional Conference on Corporate Responsibility (2-3 November, Bangkok)
Training Sessions on Human Rights, Adaptation to Climate Change (4-5 November, Berlin)
Business and Human Rights Roundtable (5-6 November, New Delhi)
3rd Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (9–13 November, Doha)
China-Japan-Korea Global Compact Local Networks Roundtable (12-13 November, Seoul)

April 2010
B4E Business for Environment Global Summit 2010 (22–23 April, Seoul)

June 2010
2010 Global Compact Leaders Summit (24–25 June 2010, New York)

Please visit the Event Calendar on our website to learn more about the listed events, including intended audience and availability.

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NEWS & UPDATES

1. Global Compact Board Convenes, Discusses Key Issues
At the recent UN Global Compact Board meeting (24 July, New York), several topics were addressed and agreed upon, notably the Global Compact Integrity Measures which are comprised of the Communications on Progress policy, logo policy and dialogue facilitation process. The Board agreed on several steps to ensure that the Integrity Measures process is upheld in line with the initiative’s mandate and resources. Among the approved solutions are clarification for external audiences on the purpose and scope of the Integrity Measures and strengthening references to relevant external processes for dialogue facilitation. Another key outcome was the decision to create a working group on environmental stewardship to build on the Global Compact’s existing platforms on climate change and water. A meeting report will be released in late August. More.

2. G8 Welcomes Global Compact's Role in Advancing Responsible Business
At their 2009 Summit (10 July, L'Aquila) the Leaders of the Group of 8 welcomed and encouraged the Global Compact's work in advancing corporate responsibility in business practices. Two references to the work of the Global Compact were made in the G8 Leaders Declaration, titled Responsible Leadership for a Sustainable Future: (1) call for enhanced efforts to avoid wider consequences of the financial crisis and to promote responsible business practices and (2) engagement with key stakeholders to further develop practical guidance for businesses operating in countries with weak governance. More.

3. Secretary-General Urges Young Entrepreneurs to Help Seal the Deal!
During the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Leadership Summit (28 July, Geneva), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on young entrepreneurs from around the world to help ensure that an "ambitious, binding and effective" global climate agreement is reached when policy makers and government negotiators convene in Copenhagen in December for the UN Climate Change Conference. JCI members were urged to join the UN's Seal the Deal! campaign and to mobilize their colleagues, clients and customers to support the adoption of a global climate agreement. More.

4. Principles for Responsible Investment Reports Progress in Key Areas
The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) held its annual conference (16-17 July, Sydney) bringing together more than 275 investors from nearly all regions of the world. The PRI conference covered topics such as climate change; water; alternative investments; private equity; and fiduciary responsibility. Launched in 2006, the UN-backed PRI today includes 560 signatories, representing over US$18 trillion in assets. More.

5. San Francisco Plans Global Compact Sustainability Center
The City of San Francisco unveiled (30 July) a proposal to create a UN Global Compact Center devoted to research and development related to climate change and clean, sustainable technologies. The Center, planned to open in 2012, is envisioned as an international destination for researchers, corporations, foundations, civil society organizations and others dedicated to addressing climate change and related issues. More. 

6. Global Compact and ISO Clarify Position, Stress Complementarity
The Global Compact Office released an exchange of letters between its Executive Director Georg Kell and Rob Steele, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), in order to clarify the Global Compact's decision to remove a reference to the initiative from the annex of the draft ISO 26000 corporate responsibility standard. Both Mr. Kell and Mr. Steele emphasized the complementary nature of the Global Compact and ISO and the commitment to collaborate in the further development of ISO 26000. More.

7. Norway Issues White Paper on Corporate Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility in a Global Economy, a paper issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2 July), aims at raising awareness about social responsibility in both the private and the public sectors and at strengthening commitments of Norwegian companies. The white paper expresses the Norwegian Government's commitment to exercising social responsibility in its own activities, conveys society’s expectations to Norwegian companies, and outlines options for developing the corporate responsibility framework nationally and internationally. More.

8. Workshop in India Stresses Anti-Corruption Policies
The Global Compact Society India held a two-day workshop (29-30 June, New Delhi) on the business benefits of greater compliance with the Global Compact’s Tenth Principle on anti-corruption. A joint effort of the Global Compact Local Network, Transparency International and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the workshop was an important step forward in efforts being made by business in India to advance the anti-corruption agenda and adopt zero-tolerance policies. More.

9. Participant Status: New Signatories, COPs and Delistings
In July, 117 companies and 38 non-business stakeholders joined the Global Compact. 221 Communications on Progress (COPs) were received, and 19 companies were delisted for failing to communicate on progress.

The largest companies (by employee number) to join during the month were: Groupe CASINO (France), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Australia), Wartsila Corporation (Finland), Sika AG (Switzerland), and Halcrow Group Limited (United Kingdom).

Total figures as of 31 July:

• Business participants: 5,146
• Non-business participants: 1,833
• COPs received: 6,085
• Delisted business participants: 940

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ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities are intended for Global Compact stakeholders unless otherwise indicated.

1. Seal the Deal!: Take Steps to Promote Effective Climate Agreement in Copenhagen
Seal the Deal! aims to galvanize political will and public support for reaching a comprehensive global climate agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen. We hope that your organization will make a strong statement of support and help us take the message to a wider audience, including those at the negotiating table. We are asking companies to: 1) Develop a short CEO testimonial on why we must Seal the Deal!, 2) Raise public awareness through marketing channels and 3) Responsibly lobby government. More on Seal the Deal!

2. CEO Letter on Anti-Corruption: Join the Campaign Today
The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) seeks to promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption. From a business perspective, UNCAC holds the potential to become the global framework for combating corruption. It is critical that governments put in place a mechanism to effectively review implementation of UNCAC. Chief executives are encouraged to sign a letter of support drafted jointly with the International Chamber of Commerce, Transparency International and the World Economic Forum PACI. Support for the letter by a large group of companies will send a strong signal to the next Intergovernmental Working Group meeting which is scheduled for 31 August 2009 and the Conference of States Parties in Doha in November 2009. More information. Read the CEO Letter.

To indicate your CEO’s willingness to add his or her name to the anti-corruption letter, please send an email providing the company name, sector, country and CEO name to: uncac-letter@unglobalcompact.org.

3. HIV/AIDS, Health, Privacy and Non-discrimination: Dilemma Workbook and Case Studies
When operating in countries with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and poor health care systems, how does a competitive business respect the right to privacy and ensure non-discrimination against employees when implementing an effective and responsible disease management programme? This is the first of a series of human rights dilemma workbooks to be launched as part of the Global Compact Human Rights Solution Forum. More information. Download the workbook.  

Additional dilemma workbooks are being created on gender and non-discrimination, migrant workers, freedom of association and living wage. If your company is interested in contributing examples on these topics please contact: solutionsforum@maplecroft.com

4. Combating Human Trafficking: Call for Examples
Building on Human Trafficking: Everybody’s Business and related survey results, the Global Compact and partner organizations are developing a publication highlighting good corporate practices in combating human trafficking. The Global Compact is requesting examples of company practices in preventing and combating human trafficking.

Please send your example to: UN.GIFT@unvienna.org with gulal@un.org on copy

5. Corporate Values and Culture Project: Submit your Values Statement
Aiming to identify corporate values and consider how they influence and enable sustainable decision-making by businesses, this project will develop an inventory of corporate values of Global Compact participants. We are seeking good examples of corporate value statements contained in mission statements, on websites, in annual or Corporate Citizenship reports, press releases, human resources manuals, etc.

Please submit your company's value statement to Project Director Chip Pitts at chip.pitts@att.net, with a copy to Lead Researcher Katharina Hermann at khermann@law.fordham.edu and Lauren Gula of the Global Compact Office gulal@un.org. The subject line of the email should read: “ Corporate Values”.

6. More Opportunities: GCLead Retreat, Caring for Climate, Vote Human Rights and more
Many of the engagement opportunities announced in past issues of the Bulletin are still active. View the full list of Engagement Opportunities

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FEATURED RESOURCES

• Xstrata in the Dominican Republic: Integrating Security and Human Rights Principles into Business Practice. Download. 
• OMV, the UN Global Compact and Human Rights: From signature to implementation. Download.
• Investing in Human Rights: ASN Bank’s Approach to Socially Responsible Banking. Download.

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EVENTS

1. Invitation: Training Sessions on Human Rights, Adaptation to Climate Change (4-5 November, Berlin)
Global Compact participants are invited to training sessions on human rights and adaptation to climate change, being organized by the Global Compact Network Germany. Each training session (for 10-15 participants) will be professionally facilitated and provide the opportunity to gain in-depth understanding of tools and instruments related to the featured topic. Sessions will be conducted in English. Training fee is € 600 per person.

For more information or to register, please contact Madeleine Koalic at madeleine.koalick@gtz.de (Human Rights) or Ann-Ulrike Henning at ann-ulrike.henning@gtz.de (Climate Change).

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Published 13 August 2009