21 February 2018

To our stakeholders:

We are pleased to confirm that United Advocates reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.
In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Sincerely yours,

United Advocates

Business should support the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

 As the principle 6 of UN Global Compact is stating: “Business should support the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation”. At United Advocates we promote equality and diversity; our employees are from all different nationalities. It is seem as an advantage for the company because we can provide our services in a bigger scale, talking in their own languages of our clients.
 Concerning the gender discrimination, our company supports its elimination. We have a near equal ratio of male and female employees. The gender difference is not taken in account and everyone has the same importance in the company.
 Our company has a detailed Work Ethics and Professional Conduct Code which has been read and signed by all employees. At the very beginning of this Code it is stated “that the human element is the active tool in the development of companies and organizations” and “undoubtedly, compliance to what is mentioned in such code shall have great effect, not only on the employee himself/herself in terms of the respect and appreciation he shall receive from the people surrounding him/her of his supervisors, subordinates, colleagues, partners and other people dealing with him/her.”
 Our company represents clients on matters related to human rights. The company promote and defend Human Rights through its activity:
- United advocates is currently advising a number of European citizens with complex criminal charges before the UAE authorities.
- United Advocates successfully assisted a local religious community in the resolution of a dispute involving its place of worship.
 United Advocates reviews its clients and always verify that the company upholds the protection of human rights in its activity.
 We ensure we are compliant with the UAE Anti-discrimination Law. The UAE authority has introduced federal legislation which prohibits all forms of discrimination on the basis of religion, belief, sect, faith, creed, race, color or ethnic origin. The Article 6 of the Law is a provision which states that a person who commits an act of discrimination may face imprisonment of up to 5 years and/or a fine of between AED 500,000 and AED 1,000,000.
 The UAE has ratified diverse international labour conventions on workforce. The Forced Labour Convention was ratified in 1982 and prohibits the use of forced labour. The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention was ratified in 1997.

 We have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, work place harassment or verbal or physical intimidation.
 All employees are treated equally.
 We have training sessions for each employee in regard to work ethics, professional conduct and discrimination.
 Our moto is 'One family, One Team', we encourage all employees to work effectively together and feel involved and included.
 We provide health care support and facilities such as health insurance for all employees as per UAE law.

 We comply at all times with the UAE Labour Law, employment matters in the UAE are governed by Federal Law No. 8 of 1980.
 As it is stated in the Principle 4, “Business should support the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour”: The UAE has ratified diverse international labour conventions on workforce. The Forced Labour Convention was ratified in 1982 and prohibits the use of forced labour. The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention was ratified in 1997

 We ensure the performance of our employees is in line with the values, principles and ethics as per our Work Ethics and Professional Conduct Code.
 We promote the values of sincerity, honesty, integrity and objectiveness.
 We provide our employees with the opportunity for further training such as attending various external courses for career development.
 There is in our company an equal salary for men and women.
 We provide all employees safe, hygienic, sanitary and comfortable work facilities.
 The article 4, .10, k. of our Work Ethics and Professional Conduct Code is underlining the fact that “the employee, in the course of performing his/her occupational duties, shall act with integrity, credibility and equally, regardless of the personal attributes of the person with whom he/she is dealing.”
 The new UAE Labour Laws are frequently published on our website to inform everyone of new the legislations:
There are three new Ministerial Decrees that are already published, there were introduced to provide clarity and ensure the rights of an expatriate employee are protected.

 We have training sessions for each employee in regard to work ethics, professional conduct and discrimination.
 At United Advocates we ensure that all employment related decisions are based on relevant and objective criteria.
 As per the Labour Law all employees are above the age of eighteen as it is stated in the Principle 5 our Business support the effective abolition of child labour.
 We have regular reviews /appraisals for employees.
 There is not any labour law or UN principle regarding labour violation.
 All of our employee's basic needs are fulfilled.
 Our employees have the right to make free decisions there is no harassment, bullying or intimidation.

 As it is stated in the principle 7, “the Business should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges”. The staff is so encouraged by verbal communication to be careful in their activities which could pollute or simply waste energy

 We promote recycling and give the instruction to printing on both sides of a paper
 The accumulation of devices in sleep mode increases pointlessly the energy consumption. Our company is equipped of multi-taps with switches witch we switch off after use.
 Ensure emergency procedures to prevent and address accidents affecting the environment and human health
 All e-mails and correspondence are saved as soft copy rather accumulating hardcopies
 Concerning our expertise in the Maritime and shipping field, at it is written on our website “besides providing advice and consulting, we take pride in having an excellent record of service in […] environmental issues and pollution”

 A great diminution of the utilization of paper.
 A diminution of the consumption of energy since the installation of mutli-taps with switches.

 We assess the risk of corruption when doing business. We do not engage in bribery. It is mentioned in the article 4 of our Work Ethics and Professional Conduct Code that: “The employee shall comply with the occupational duties and responsibilities in accordance with the following:

a. To perform the duties and tasks of his/her position which are assigned to him/her, actively and with the required honesty, integrity, accuracy and professionalism, and be act apart from his/her personal interests when performing his/her job, and to serve the objectives and goals of United Advocates Firm and serve the public good of the firm, exclusively.
b. To ensure to be familiarized of the valid laws and regulations and the amendments, updates and applications thereof without any breach, violation or negligence
c. The employee shall comply to perform his/her general occupational duties, personally, and in accordance with the following:
1. An employee may not delegate the performance of his/her occupational duties to another person, unless if he is expressly authorized to do so under a written authorization from his/her direct supervisor or in the case of force majeure as per the interest of work and on a temporary basis.
2. The employee’s obligation to perform his/her occupational duties is considered to constitute a personal obligation based on the principle of individual competency and liability.
d. The employee shall comply to perform his/her occupational duties accurately and honestly, in accordance with the following:
1. The employee, when performing his/her occupational duties and tasks, shall take in consideration the firm’s interest only, including the preservation of the interests and rights of the people dealing therewith, especially those of the firm’s, and the employee shall apply all the prevailing laws, rules and codes in relation to the nature of his/her position without exceptions.”
 We mention “anti-corruption” and/or “ethical behavior” in contracts with business partners
 Ensure that internal procedures support the company’s anti-corruption commitment, such as a diligent know your client procedure.
 We ensure we are compliant with the UAE Anti Money Laundering Law: Money laundering is a crime in UAE and also in an International level.
 All money from clients are paid into the Company bank account.
 Our employees are specifically prohibited to receive from clients or any person's dealing with the firm, directly or indirectly for any interest, gift, monetary amount or anything alike in return of the work/service provided.
 There are in UAE comprehensive legislative provisions that were taken on the subject. These anti-corruption provisions of the Emirates Penal Code also covers “non-public officials” like there are in our company.
The Penal Code prohibits any non-public official from asking for himself or for third parties, or accepting, or taking a promise or gift, to do or abstain from doing an act included in his job or in breach of his duties.
A violation of these provisions can end in substantial fines or imprisonment.

Measure of outcomes:

 We have never had to deal with a problem bind to corruption.