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1. UN Secretary-General Urges Business to Embrace Corporate Sustainability
2. Women’s Empowerment Principles Noted for Advancing Gender Equality
3. Global Compact Has Expelled 3,000+ Companies
4. First Meeting of South-East Europe Global Compact Networks Convened
5. Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus Policy Recommendations Released
6. Participant Status: New Signatories, COPs and Delistings
1. Seeking Company Examples: Biodiversity, Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture, Social Enterprise & Impact Investing
2. UN System Private Sector Engagement Opportunities
3. More Opportunities: Endorse the Women’s Empowerment Principles, Join Caring for Climate and more
1. Blueprint for Corporate Sustainability Leadership
2. Basic Online COP Template
1. Children’s Rights and Business Principles: Global Release (12 Mar, London)
2. Upcoming Webinars: Human Rights, COP Differentiation, Children’s Rights, Disability in the Workplace (March – April 2012, Online).
3. Essential Skills for Effective Partnering (28-30 May, London)
4. Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: Innovation & Collaboration for the Future We Want (15-18 Jun, Rio de Janeiro)
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1. UN Secretary-General Urges Business to Embrace Corporate Sustainability
Speaking at a corporate sustainability summit (14 February, New York), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on U.S. and global business leaders to embed sustainability principles in their strategies and operations and join forces with the UN in advancing sustainable development. During his remarks, the Secretary-General highlighted several UN-backed initiatives including the Global Compact. He also encouraged participation in the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum, and called on companies to publicly report on sustainability performance; engage in responsible lobbying and advocacy; work with governments to adopt smart regulatory frameworks; and partner with the United Nations and its agencies, funds and programmes. More. Read the Secretary-General’s Remarks.
2. Women’s Empowerment Principles Noted for Advancing Gender Equality
On the first anniversary of the establishment of UN Women, the organization’s executive director Michelle Bachelet highlighted its increased interaction with the private sector, particularly through the Women’s Empowerment Principles, which guide companies in creating better and more equitable conditions for women. Ms. Bachelet noted that 257 CEOs have committed to advance decent working conditions and equal opportunities for women. More.
3. Global Compact Has Expelled 3,000+ Companies
The Global Compact has expelled a total of 3,123 companies since 2005 for failure to communicate progress on their efforts to implement the Global Compact’s sustainability principles. The Global Compact Office issued a statement highlighting this development and calling on current business participants to broaden and deepen their implementation efforts. More. View full list of expelled companies.
4. First Meeting of South-East Europe Global Compact Networks Convened
Representatives of seven networks – Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia – attended the First Regional Meeting of the South-East Europe Global Compact Networks (3 February, Thessaloniki). Plenary sessions addressed human rights and anti-corruption issues relevant to the local context as well as Rio+20. Outcomes of the meeting included decisions to exchange existing tools and resources, share lists of members, convene webinars, and meet annually. More.
5. Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus Policy Recommendations Released
A set of policy recommendations that constitute the primary output of the Bonn2011 Conference on the "Water, Energy, and Food Security Nexus" (16-18 November 2011, Bonn) were released. The recommendations, which will be fed into the Rio+20 process, include an emphasis on corporate sustainability and responsible investment and call on the international business community to contribute more actively to the nexus challenges through initiatives such as the Global Compact. More. Access the recommendations.
6. Participant Status: New Signatories, COPs and Delistings
In February, 135 companies and 49 non-business stakeholders joined the Global Compact. 102 companies were delisted for failing to communicate on progress. The largest companies (by employee number) to join during the month were: Audi AG (Germany), The Siam Cement Public Company Limited (Thailand), Amil Participacoes S/A (Brazil), Newrest Group International (France), Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S.A. (Brazil) and Epyllion Group (Bangladesh).
Total figures as of 29 February:
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1. Seeking Company Examples: Biodiversity, Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture, Social Enterprise & Impact Investing
Global Compact business participants are invited to submit examples that illustrate their efforts, best practices and solutions – individually and in collaboration with other stakeholders – to address sustainability challenges. We are seeking innovative examples in the following areas:
These examples will be considered for inclusion in future Global Compact materials.
2. UN System Private Sector Engagement Opportunities
Companies, institutions and associations of all types and sizes are invited to participate. Click here for more information about the awards, including eligibility criteria and nomination forms.
To participate, please click here. The following sectors may have particular interest in the study: fixed line telecommunications, mobile telecommunications, software and computer services, banks and financial services, and technology hardware and equipment. Please contact cybercrime.study@unodc.org.
Click here to learn more. Download the membership kit. For additional information please contact Ms. Kiki Lawal (lawalk@un.org).
3. More Opportunities: Endorse the Women’s Empowerment Principles, Join Caring for Climate 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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1. Blueprint for Corporate Sustainability Leadership:
Inspires advanced performers to reach the next level of sustainability performance, and identifies leadership criteria linked to implementation of principles, efforts to support development objectives, and engagement in the Global Compact. Download the publication: لعربية | 中文 | English | Français | Português | Русский | Español
2. Basic Online COP Template: Offers an easy-to-use web-based template to guide companies in submitting their Communication on Progress. Download a preview of the Basic Online COP Template: العربية | 中文 | English | Français | 日本語 | Português | Русский | Español | Deutsch | Türkçe
Please visit the Tools and Resources webpage to access all material issued by the Global Compact.
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1. Children’s Rights and Business Principles: Global Release (12 Mar, London)
– BY INVITATION ONLY – The Global Compact, UNICEF and Save the Children will present the landmark Children’s Rights and Business Principles. The event will bring together leading companies and experts to generate discussion and showcase examples of how business can respect and support children’s rights in their core operations. These will be the first comprehensive set of principles to guide companies on the range of actions they can take in the workplace, marketplace and community to respect and support children’s rights. Many business leaders, civil society representatives and children across the globe actively participated in shaping the Principles.
Learn more about the Children’s Rights and Business Principles. Please contact, Anita Househam (househam@un.org) for more information.
2. Upcoming Webinars: Human Rights, COP Differentiation, Children’s Rights, Disability in the Workplace (March – April 2012, Online).
– OPEN INVITATION – A number of webinars on a variety of topics will be convened over the next month. All Global Compact participants are encouraged to participate in these sessions:
3. Essential Skills for Effective Partnering (28-30 May, London)
– OPEN TO GLOBAL COMPACT PARTICIPANTS – The Partnering Initiative, in association with the Global Compact, will hold a three-day course designed to develop the capacity of staff from all sectors to engage in effective multi-stakeholder partnerships. This training course will look at the motivation to partner with other sectors, as well as teaching participants the skills needed to create strong partnerships.
To register, please contact: info@thepartneringinitiative.org or click here for further information.
4. Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: Innovation & Collaboration for the Future We Want (15-18 June, Rio de Janeiro)
– BY INVITATION ONLY – Organized by the Global Compact, the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum will give business and investors an opportunity to meet with governments, local authorities, civil society and UN entities in dozens of highly focused workshops and thematic sessions linked to the Rio+20 agenda. With 2,000 participants expected, the Forum’s objective is to bring greater scale and quality to corporate sustainability practices. A showcase for innovation and collaboration, the Forum is designed to be a launching ground for widespread action.
The Forum will be held at the Windsor Barra Hotel in Rio. For more information, please visit www.compact4rio.org.
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Event Calendar
March
Annual Event on the Women’s Empowerment Principles (6 Mar, New York)
Children’s Rights and Business Principles: Global Release (12 Mar, London)
Business and Human Rights: Implications for Management Education (14 Mar, webinar)
Global Compact Collective Action Against Corruption: Progress Report (15 Mar, webinar)
Realizing Children’s Rights in Global Supply Chains (19 Mar, webinar)
Introduction to the Global Compact (21 Mar, webinar)
COP Differentiation: Reaching “GC Active” Level (22 Mar, webinar)
COP Differentiation: Achieving “GC Advanced” Level (23 Mar, webinar)
Dow Jones Global Compliance Symposium (27-28 Mar, Washington)
UN System Private Sector Focal Points Meeting (28-29 Mar, Vienna)
April
Disability in the Workplace and the ILO Global Business and Disability Network (3 April, webinar)
Child Labour Platform / Labour Working Group Meeting (17 Apr, Geneva)
Sports Sponsorship and Corruption (18 Apr, webinar)
May
Introduction of the Global Compact in Myanmar (1 May, TBD)
Copenhagen Fashion Summit (3 May, Copenhagen)
Essential Skills for Effective Partnering (28-30 May, London)
June
Annual Local Networks Forum (15 June, Rio de Janeiro)
PRME Global Forum (15 June, Rio de Janeiro)
Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: Innovation & Collaboration for the Future We Want (15-18 June, Rio de Janeiro)
September
PRME Australia/New Zealand Regional Meeting (27 Sep, Brisbane)
December
Human Rights Working Group Meeting (6 Dec, Geneva)
PRME Asian Forum (8-9 Dec, Tokyo)
Please visit the Event Calendar on our website to learn more about the listed events.
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