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The Global Compact, in partnership with the French Ministry of Economy,
Finances and Industry, convenes an international policy dialogue in Paris on
26-27 January 2004 on the topic of “Transparency and the Fight Against
Corruption”. The meeting, which will take place at the Ministry, will
include nearly 150 participants and leading experts representing business,
government, civil society, academia and the UN.
Also in
Paris, at an event in the afternoon and evening of 27 January, President Jacques
Chirac and Secretary-General Kofi Annan will preside over the introduction of
the Global Compact Network France, which includes more than 230 leading French
companies committed to advancing the Global Compact’s nine principles on human
rights, labour and the environment. The Global Compact Network France will
then convene a working-level meeting on 28 January to discuss strategies for
promoting the Global Compact in France and other French-speaking countries
around the world. The network will be chaired by Bertrand Collomb of
Lafarge.
The policy dialogue on “Transparency and the Fight Against
Corruption” will feature a plenary session with a keynote address by Francis
Mer, French Minister of Economy, Finances and Industry. Following the
plenary session, a panel and break-out sessions will explore how to support
existing initiatives such as the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative
(EITI). This will be followed by in-depth discussions on the topic of
corruption, including a discussion of the role of business with respect to the
UN Convention Against Corruption.
During the policy dialogue
segment on the topic of corruption, participants will discuss a proposal to add
a principle against corruption to the framework of the Global Compact.
This discussion is part of a comprehensive consultation process initiated by the
Global Compact Office to seek the views of participants regarding the possible
addition of a principle against corruption. The policy dialogue will be
the first occasion at which participants discuss this possibility before the
Global Compact Leaders Summit, scheduled for 24 June 2004.
The
panel discussion on corruption will feature presentations from Peter Eigen,
Transparency International; Francois Vincke, International Chamber of Commerce;
Caspar Ridely, Royal Dutch/Shell Group; and Caroline King, SAP.
On
the afternoon and evening of 27 January, an event will convene at the Elysée to
introduce the Global Compact Network France. President Jacques Chirac and
Secretary-General Kofi Annan will address the meeting, which will also feature
Jérôme Monod, the counsellor of President Jacques Chirac, and several French
business leaders. Numerous in-depth case studies on the Global Compact
will be presented at the event.
The Global Compact Network France
will work to broaden commitment to the Global Compact in France and in other
French-speaking countries. The Network will establish a French-language
website; translate key Global Compact materials into French; and convene
meetings to raise awareness of the Compact and its principles. The Global
Compact today operates more than 50 such country-level networks.
“French companies are among the most active participants in the
Global Compact”, said Georg Kell, Executive Head of the Global
Compact. “The Global Compact Network France will play an extremely
important role in advancing learning, dialogue and projects in France and
beyond”.
