Important Step Forward for the Brazilian Network
(New York, 20 June 2006) –
Participants of the Brazilian Global Compact Network gathered in Sao Paulo on 19 June
for a general meeting. Present at the meeting were 56 signatories of the GC, representatives
of some of Brazil's largest corporations, as well as SMEs,
Brazilian business associations and civic and academic organizations.
The meeting offered an
opportunity to discuss key challenges and opportunities facing the initiative
in Brazil, and reflect upon and learn from the experience accumulated
over the six years the Global Compact has existed.
Key outcomes of the meeting
include:
- To further collective action, the National Network and
the National Committee of the GC Network Brazil will be reconstituted over the
next months.
- The National Committee will be downsized to 20-25
members, while maintaining its current balance between business associations
of different Brazilian states, companies and other stakeholders.
- National Committee mandates will last two years, with
meetings to be held on a monthly basis.
- While the title of Honorary Chair will rest with the
UN (most preferably the new UN Resident Coordinator), the new Chairman will be
Ricardo Young of Instituto Ethos. In addition, the two Executive Vice Chairs
are Izalco Sardenberg of Bovespa and Jose Luis Neri of Petrobras. A
secretariat will be established jointly by the UN and the Instituto Ethos, and
a coordinator will be hired.
- The census of participating companies will be updated.
Participating companies and institutions will have a GC General Meeting on 19
June, before the opening of the Ethos International Conference. During the
meeting, the new composition of the National Committee will be presented, as
well as the activities plan of the GC in Brazil.
- The Committee will set up an activities plan centered on a project: one possibility
is to undertake a campaign for “decent labor” in Brazil. At any rate,
the GC Brazil will enter, with a range of activities, the Pact on
Anti-Corruption, and will give a significant international flavor to the
national campaign. Also, at the beginning of 2007, the GC Network Brazil could propose
and lead dialogues between the companies engaged in the Anticorruption Pact
and the public authorities (this after the General Elections).
With this General Meeting, the Brazilian GC Network has implemented most of
the agreed agenda, taking an important step forward.
New
companies are volunteering to become members of the National Committee and the
suggested bylaws (including renewal of the positions in the National Committee every two
years) were approved. Also, an activities plan was approved focusing on two
aspects: the National Pact against Corruption and the general theme, to be
carved out into specific actions on Decent Work.
Additionally, two projects were presented to the General Assembly: a campaign
to change management education led by the Global Responsible Leadership
initiative (Dom Cabral) and by the Getulio Vargas Business School, as well as a
plan to train 300 future professionals on CSR matters in a partnership between
AIESEC Brazil and the companies participating in the Global Compact.
Download the meeting report here .
For more information please contact Manuel Escudero at escuderom@un.org or +1-917-367-3483.
