UN Global Compact

The UN Global Compact (UNGC) is a voluntary UN initiative aimed at encouraging organisations to adopt sustainable practices. The UNGC is based on a series of ten principles relating to human rights, labour law, the environment and the fight against corruption.

Organisations that are signatories to the UNGC commit themselves to implementing the principles of the Pact and to report annually on the progress made in their integration. This "Communication on Progress", or COP, requires the signatories to publish a declaration of accession to the Pact, a description of the measures taken and the results obtained. Signatories are classified according to three levels of COP disclosure: Level GC Learner, Level GC Active and Level GC Advanced.

The ten principles of the UN Global Compact invite organisations to:
(source: www.unglobalcompact.org)

Human rights

• Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
• Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Labour law

• Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
• Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
• Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
• Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environment

• Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
• Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
• Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

Fight against corruption

• Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

See www.unglobalcompact.org for more details.