E. Global Compact

Ms. Ursula Wyndhoven (Global Compact Office) presented an overview of the Global Compact.

The United Nations Global Compact initiative provides the enabling context for the private sector to participate actively in the development effort.

A recent initiative was proposed under the Global Compact umbrella in Johannesburg entitled Growing Sustainable Business in the Least Developed Countries .

In order to ensure more effective collaboration by the United Nations agencies involved in the initiative, OHCHR has worked together with the Global Compact Office and the five other participating agencies in establishing a Global Compact Inter Agency Team.

They form part of a growing trend towards corporate social responsibility and self regulation and include the Ethical Trading Initiative, the Global Reporting Initiative, and the Global Compact initiated by the Secretary General of the United Nations.

The panellist from the UN Global Compact introduced the Global Compact and the way it approached the issue of CSR.

UNODC collaboration with the private sector under the Global Compact Initiative was also noted, though one representative questioned how such collaboration was to be developed.

As a result, fighting corruption not only has become a major goal for UNODC, but also is one of the commitments of the Global Compact Initiative.

Mr. Jonas Moberg, Senior Advisor, United Nations Global Compact

Building upon the dynamic of the Global Compact Initiative, the private sector could be further involved in the process through strategic financial support to targeted areas of interest

At the Global Compact Leaders Summit, held in New York on 24 June 2004, the chief executive officers of corporations participating in the Global Compact Initiative of the Secretary General adopted work against corruption as a new (tenth) principle in addition to those on human rights, labour and the environment.

Finally, the Global Compact Office secured the support of the Government of China to convene the Global Compact China Summit on 30 November and 1 December 2005.

In 1999, the Global Environment Facility small grants programme joined efforts with the United Nations Foundation in launching a partnership initiative entitled Community management of protected areas for conservation (COMPACT) .

My Office has continued its involvement in the United Nations Global Compact.

In 2004, UNODC became the sixth core agency of the Global Compact and, together with the Global Compact Office, works with Global Compact participants in promoting the expeditious ratification of the Convention against Corruption and in developing and implementing capacity building projects aimed at incorporating the Convention into domestic legal systems.

Pointing to the role of public private partnerships in this regard, he elaborated on four types of partnerships involving the United Nations, including the Global Compact the sharing of expertise, material and funding policy dialogue and the Global Sustainable Business Initiative.

In 2004, the Office became the sixth core agency of the United Nations Global Compact and, together with the Global Compact Office, works with Global Compact participants in promoting the expeditious ratification of the Convention against Corruption and in developing and implementing capacity building projects for incorporating the Convention into domestic legal systems.

Also encourages responsible business practices, such as those promoted by the Global Compact

The Global Compact today includes more than 2,000 companies from over 80 countries.

Global Compact members were small and large corporations from developed and developing countries.

These publications included fourteen major policy papers, including papers on The Road to the Global Compact and Global Taxes for Global Priorities.

The past year also saw the launch of Compact Quarterly, an electronic newsletter containing articles and updates on the Global Compact and its issue areas.

While the governance of the Global Compact will continue to be directed from the Global Compact Office, the initiative's participants will take over greater ownership through the many country networks that have been established.

7. Also encourages responsible business practices, such as those promoted by the Global Compact

175. We encourage responsible business practices, such as those promoted by the Global Compact.

8. Also encourages responsible business practices, such as those promoted by the Global Compact

In the framework of the Global Compact, for example, private sector activity is important.

At the same time, the Global Compact and UNEP launched the Principles for Responsible Investment initiative, which is currently mobilizing the chief executive officers of the world's largest pension funds to advance responsible investment globally.

The Organization's sponsorship of the Global Compact Leaders Summit in June 2004 highlighted the paradox that the Secretariat itself could do more to ensure that its own administrative practices were fully aligned with Global Compact principles.

It was further recommended that transnational corporations should respect the provisions of the Global Compact.

During the year there were impressive examples of country network activity. For example, the Global Compact Egypt network held a series of seminars on implementation, while the Global Compact Society India helped convene a two day Global Compact Regional Conclave in South Asia in Jamshedpur, which drew more than 200 participants and focused on the issue of business and poverty.

Indeed, it is clear that many Global Compact participants have impressive track records in terms of turning the 10 principles into practice, but are unclear why the Global Compact is now placing such importance on communicating those activities.

With respect to improving brand management, the Global Compact Office also published a new and more comprehensive policy on the use of the Global Compact logo, introducing a second, modified logo for use by participants and other supporters.

The Global Compact had also disseminated information to global audiences on the Voluntary Principles and other initiatives relating to the extractive sector.

He welcomed the impetus given by the Secretary General to the Compact through the Global Compact Office and the role that the Office played in promoting responsible business practices.

10. Welcomes the appointment by the Secretary General of a Special Adviser for the Global Compact

In this context, UNIDO will continue to be actively involved in the United Nations Global Compact.

Latvia also reported that representatives of the Latvian business community had participated in the Global Compact Leaders Summit, held in New York in June 2004, and that a number of Latvian private business entities had joined the Global Compact.

UNODC, together with the Global Compact Office, works with Global Compact participants in promoting the expeditious ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and in developing and implementing capacity building projects for incorporating the Convention into domestic legal systems.

GRI (2002) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. Global Reporting Initiative.

Recognises that, in light of the increased threat of nuclear proliferation and terrorism, the Proliferation Security Initiative, the Global Threat Reduction Initiative and the G8 Global Partnership Initiative should be approved.

Concerning the Global Compact, the principle of transparency was indeed an essential element for achieving sustainable development.

Individual extractive companies had also collaborated with the Global Compact to provide case studies of dilemma situations.

We could perhaps promote a global compact for disaster assistance between the United Nations and those corporations.