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In depth I  Corporate accountability Protect, respect and remedy: a framework for business and human rights Source: United Nations Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, John Ruggie. April 2008 (pdf version).[see more]   print    send   Correct  ADD YOUR COMMENT >> Globalization, trade and investment designs and structures reinforce a model of development -centred on free trade, hyper economic growth, and export-oriented production- which is inherently unsustainable in ecological and social terms. They also destroy viable localized and regional systems that may have the greatest long-term promise for future sustainability. Consequently, there is increasing global concern about the broader issue of corporate accountability and pressures seem to be mounting from diverse political and intellectual quarters for greater corporate responsibility. The Global Compact is the United Nations' response to this demand. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan first proposed the Global Compact in an address to The World Economic Forum on 31 January 1999. The Global Compact's operational phase was launched at UN Headquarters in New York on 26 July 2000. The Global Compact is formally a multi-stakeholder partnership of UN agencies, business entities and civil society organizations, established to encourage business to promote good corporate practices in the field of environmental protection, human rights and labour standards. Those practices are based on nine principles extracted from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the Rio Declaration on the Environment and Development. The Global Compact is not a regulatory instrument -it does not "police", enforce or measure the behaviour or actions of companies. Rather, the Global Compact relies on public accountability, transparency and the enlightened self-interest of companies, labour and civil society to initiate and share substantive action in pursuing the principles upon which the Global Compact is based. But from the statements made by the participants at the conference that launched the Global Compact, it is clear that the different partners want different things. Business wants a soft approach, with no imposition of standards and minimal scrutiny, and with specific companies allowed to go at their own pace. On the other hand, some NGOs and trade unions were joined by the UN High Commissioner for Human rights in calling for a 'price to be paid', that is, tougher measures including independent monitoring, public reporting, a faster response on the part of business, and measures against member companies that do not comply. As Peter Utting, Project Leader at the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), writes in his report on the Global Compact, opinions are fairly polarized: "Proponents generally see the initiative as an innovative and pragmatic approach that can reform corporate culture by instilling new values and mobilize the resources of big business for social and sustainable development. It is regarded as an exemplary form of 'good governance', where cooperation and voluntary approaches win out over conflict and heavy-handed regulation." "Critics of the initiative are concerned that it may be doing more to enhance the reputation of big business than aiding the environment and people in need," says Utting. "They are worried that companies with a reputation for malpractice have been welcomed into Global Compact, and that the conditions imposed on business to comply with the principles are very weak. Companies can pick and choose among the nine principles they want to address and there is no monitoring of compliance. The focus on best practices diverts attention from malpractice, 'greenwash' and structural and other factors that encourage corporate irresponsibility or a 'business-as-usual' attitude." Versión en español share:   print    send   correct  ADD YOUR COMMENT >>  Corporate accountability: views and analyses  Corporations and human rights  Corporations and sustainable development  Corporate initiatives on business responsibility  Other initiatives  The Global Compact: official information  The Global Compact: analyses and reports  Future ISO SR 26000 Standard  United Nations and business  Corporate misdemeanors  Civil society monitoring corporations  Civil society statements  Information resources  Books   News Up-to-date current affairs information. Tue May 09 2006 Big business in reform school, but is it sticking? Fuente: IPS In-depth reports Detailed reports on key issues Global labour rights As transnational corporations spread their operations around the world in search of a cheap and flexible labour force, the call for global labour rights becomes more urgent. Oil fueling conflicts Many wars have been waged and are still being fought all over the world to ensure corporate control over oil. Biotechnology and biosafety The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety entered into force on 11 September 2003, after reaching 50 ratifications. The water crisis If access to water is a basic human right, should its provision be left in the hands of private corporations? Millennium Development Goals - MDGs A comprehensive list of resources from the United Nations and civil society organizations. Rio+10: Earth Summit 2002 Ten years after Rio ’92, is there still an agenda for sustainable development?      Corporate accountability: views and analyses Background and perspective Source: Infochange India John Samuel and Anil Saari We live in an age in which companies equivalent in wealth to countries call the shots and control much of the earth's resources. Because corporates intervene in so many areas of social life, they must be responsible towards society and the environment. Business in society: making a positive and responsible contribution Source: International Chamber of Commerce Report prepared by the Commission on Business in Society, 7 May 2002. Towards binding corporate accountability Source: Friends of the Earth International This briefing outlines the case for an effective legally binding international framework on corporate accountability and liability, including the need for a corporate accountability convention. Corporate Accountability in South Africa: the petrochemical industry and air pollution Source: GroundWork Mark Butler and David Hallowes Each year The groundWork Report gives an account of the state of environmental justice in South Africa in relation to a focus theme. 'Corporate accountability' was the theme of the first report, released in 2002 (pdf version). Transnational corporations should be held to human rights standards Source: UN News Centre The United Nations expert on the right to food recommended that UN Member States better monitor transnational companies to protect food supplies for the poor and suggested that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) could play a role in this effort. Swaziland: corporate responsibility on the rise Source: AfricaNews James Hall An impoverished kingdom that seeks foreign investors to raise the economy out of its doldrums also looks to corporations to play a significant role in meeting social issues. Promoting development through corporate social responsibility - does it work? Source: UNRISD Peter Utting Over the past decade many high-profile corporations and business or industry associations have responded to civil society and consumer pressures, market opportunities, and new thinking on "good governance" and management by projecting an environmentally - and socially - responsible image. Multinationals and accountability Source: Asia Times Alan Boyd A drive to make multinationals legally accountable for their investment practices abroad, including the adoption of acceptable labor and environmental standards, has attracted unlikely support from a United Nations human-rights panel. Power without accountability? Source: One World Trust Hetty Kovach, Caroline Neligan and Simon Burall The One World Trust's Global Accountability Report is the first of its kind to compare the accountability of inter-governmental organizations, transnational corporations and international non-governmental organizations. Eighteen of the world's most powerful organizations are assessed in this pilot report (pdf format). Behind the mask: the real face of corporate social responsibility Source: Christian Aid The image of multinational companies working hard to make the world a better place is often just that - an image, says a new report from Christian Aid. What's needed are new laws to make businesses responsible for protecting human rights and the environment wherever they work. Corporate Social Responsiblity: envisioning its social implications Source: The Jus Semper Global Alliance Gérard Fonteneau This is a working paper offering a critique of CSR from the perspective of democratic societies and the future of its institutions, especially with regards to the potential impact of CSR on all sectors of civil society and, in particular, on the trade unions and its practices (pdf version). Barricades and boardrooms: a contemporary history of the corporate accountability movement Source: UNRISD Jem Bendell In the context of a growing debate about the impacts of and resistance to globalization, this paper argues that world development is being undermined by corporate power, yet we are on the cusp of significant changes as societies respond to the challenge. It examines the reaction of civil society in Europe and North America to corporate power, and the emergence of a new corporate accountability movement. Corporate responsibility and the future of the international trade and investment agendas Source: International Institute for Environment and Development Halina Ward and Bernice Lee This paper argues that there are fundamental tensions between businesses' lobbying on international trade and investment issues and their attempts to address environmental and social issues through a 'voluntarist' corporate responsibility (CR) agenda, as often efforts to liberalise international trade contribute to inequality and poverty, while the CR agenda attempts to ameliorate these same effects (pdf version). The corporate control of society and human life Source: Counter Currents Stephen Lendman As corporations have grown in size they've gained in power and influence. And so has the harm they cause - to communities, nations, the great majority of the public and the planet. Today corporate giants decide who governs and how, who serves on our courts, what laws are enacted and even whether and when wars are fought, against whom and for what purpose or gain. April 2006. Inherent rules of corporate behavior Source: Reclaim Democracy Jeff Milchen In his 1991 book, In the Absence of the Sacred, Jerry Mander outlined what he called, 11 "Inherent Rules of Corporate Behavior." He aimed to help readers understand that publicly-traded corporations are best understood as machines programmed to accomplish specific results and that corporate behavior was largely independent of the individual morality of its officers and directors. His insights have never been more timely, as they illustrate the severe limitations of promoting "corporate responsibility" and illustrate the essential truth that corporations must be redefined and subordinated to democracy, not merely regulated or pleaded with to do the right thing. May 2006. The business of corporate social investment: is enough being done Source: SANGONeT Badumile Duma Over the past decade, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and as a spin-off, corporate social investment (CSI) has increasingly become a topical subject for most companies and civil society organisations (CSOs). However, despite the fact that the subject has been rehashed in various conferences and seminars, any consensus as to what it really means, has yet to be reached. Consensus is particularly evasive when it comes to the issue of, what exactly constitutes ‘development’ and how it should be achieved. September 2006. Corporate social responsibility, public-private partnerships and human development: towards a new agenda (and beyond) Source: UNRISD Ananya Mukherjee Reed and Darryl Reed Paper presented at the Conference “Public Private Partnerships in the Post-WSSD Context”. Copenhagen Business School, August 14-15, 2006 (pdf version). Putting teeth in Corporate Social Responsibility Source: Policy Innovations Keith Slack Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a fashionable, if not particularly well-defined, term in recent years. The concept encompasses a broad range of activities that corporations may engage in, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, to demonstrate that they are addressing important human rights, environmental, and labor issues—many of which have been brought to their attention by activist groups. November 2006. The political economy of corporate responsibility in India Source: UNRISD Atul Sood, Bimal Arora Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is on the rise all over the world, and India is no exception. The history of corporate paternalism has played an important part in shaping community expectations and CSR practices in India. Civil society, consumers and other actors have increased the pressure on companies to adhere to social and environmental standards, and this new “civil regulatory” environment has had impacts on business in India. This paper considers corporate environmental and social behaviour in India, both in the past and the present, in an attempt to better understand the actual impact of CSR. January 2007. Non-Governmental Organisations and Corporate Social Responsibility in Iberian America Source: The Jus Semper Global Alliance Myriam Cardozo Brum and Álvaro de Regil Castilla While decades ago Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) acquired much importance on the agenda of the European Union and of some of its member countries, in Iberian America there is little interest among national governments, the business community and universities. Nonetheless, some countries (Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, etc.) have begun developing a corporate social responsibility conscience thanks to the efforts of nongovernmental organisations. January 2007 (pdf version).    Corporations and human rights Business & Human Rights Resource Centre The aim of this "online library" is to provide easy access (through links) to a wide range of materials on subjects relating to business and human rights. Human Rights for Workers Human Rights for Workers focuses on how globalization affects working men and women and on how it creates the need to incorporate the human rights of workers into global rules at the national, regional, and international levels through governmental, quasi-governmental, private business, labor union, and other non-governmental channels. HRFW is replete with Web links to groups that address this agenda. New guidelines on TNC responsibilities Source: Third World Network Kanaga Raja A UN body adopted a set of human rights standards for businesses that could become the basis for a binding international instrument on corporate responsibility. Human Rights Watch Articles and reports on corporations and human rights by US-based organization Human Rights Watch. Business and Human Rights: A Progress Report Source: The Office of the High Commissioner The issue of human rights is central to good corporate citizenship and to a healthy bottom line. Many companies find strength in their human rights records; others suffer the consequences of ignoring this vital part of corporate life. Today, human rights is a key performance indicator for corporations all over the world. Preface by Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The UN Human Rights Norms for Business: towards legal accountability Source: Amnesty International Human rights organizations have addressed concerns to businesses for a number of years. Recognizing that economic globalization has expanded the reach of corporate power, advocates have struggled to ensure that companies, no less than other significant actors, are brought within the framework of international human rights rules. A significant step in this direction was taken in August 2003 by the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights when it approved the UN Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights. This booklet -published by Amnesty International in 2004- provides an introduction to the UN Human Rights Norms for Business. It answers a number of questions about the UN Norms and their legal status, and includes an overview of their development, background on the drafting process, and a description of the content and legal status of the UN Norms. The text of the UN Norms and their Commentary are reproduced on pages 20-35 (pdf version). Joint Submission to the OHCHR on the Human Rights Responsibilities of Business Source: International Network for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights The International Network for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights invites to endorse this joint document which will present to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Geneva, on 22 October 2004. The initiative is part of the campaign in support of the UN Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights. September 2004. Nigeria: are human rights in the pipeline? Source: Amnesty International Amnesty International is very concerned that civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights are being violated and abused in the process of the oil exploration and production in the Niger Delta. November 2004. The privatization of human rights violations: business impunity or corporate responsibility? Source: Noble World Nils Rosemann Shortly after the release of the report about the Abu Ghraib torture scandale by The New Yorker on April 30, 2004, it became clear that this maltreatment of prisoners had a certain structure, pattern and goals. Existing commentary focuses on the interrogation methods by state actors, such as Military Intelligence, Military Police and Armed Forces of the U.S. led occupational forces. Instead, this article focuses on non-state actors – primarily, private contractors and their employees. December 2004 (pdf version). UN human rights norms for business: briefing kit Source: ESCR-Net With the recent wave of economic globalization, corporations have become powerful actors, able to shape policy and to operate across national boundaries, limiting the capacity of individual governments to consistently regulate corporate activities. Largely due to challenges from civil society against corporate human rights abuses, a number of voluntary initiatives have been developed over the past couple decades. While representing a valuable first step, these voluntary standards often lack international legitimacy; have no independent monitoring; and do not provide adequate accountability mechanisms. Very few codes refer to human rights, and if they do so, it is only in general terms. The UN Human Rights Norms for Business (UN Norms) represent an important step forward, providing a common and comprehensive international statement of the human rights responsibilities of companies. January 2005 (pdf version). Human Rights and business at the UN Commission on Human Rights and beyond Source: ESCR-Net On 20 April 2005, the UN Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution that requests the Secretary General to appoint a Special Representative on business and human rights. Over the past several months, members of the ESCR-Net Corporate Accountability Working Group have been actively lobbying and educating on behalf of the UN Human Rights Norms for Business, in order to strengthen corporate accountability. April 2005 Corporate accountability joint NGO report Source: ESCR-Net In many countries government regulation and enforcement are inadequate to protect individuals when corporate activities negatively impact on the human rights of their workforce or the communities where they operate. The ESCR-Net Corporate Accountability Working Group has assembled a set of case studies related to the extract industries that reveal patterns of violations and gaps in the protection of human rights, including environmental and indigenous peoples’ rights. (PDF document). February 2006. Contribution to the mandate of the UN special representative on Transnational Corporations & Human Rights Source: International Federation for Human Rights This position paper seeks to contribute to the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises, Mr. John Ruggie. April 2006. Big Oil moves ahead on human rights, slowly Source: AlertNet Deepa Babington The world's major oil companies are responding to years of public pressure to address human rights concerns tied to their operations in second- and third-world countries. Several companies have come out with explicit human rights protection policy statements, in what human rights groups have called a promising first step. September 2006. Volvo: evading corporate responsibility Source: The Electronic Intifada Adri Nieuwhof The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre in London published on its website a link to the article "Volvo: Symbol of safety or human rights abuses?", by Adri Nieuwhof, and asked the company to respond. The article highlights the use of Volvo construction machinery by the Israeli military as a tool in the occupation, which is the reason behind recent calls for economic pressure on Volvo. Mr. M. Wikforss, Vice President of Media Relations & Corporate News of Volvo Group wrote a letter in response, which is also published on the Resource Centre's website. In this article Nieuwhof reacts to Volvo's arguments. July 2007. Embedding human rights in business practice II Source: UN Global Compact The Global Compact Office and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have released the second edition in the Embedding Human Rights in Business Practice series. The publication has been produced in the context of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and features 20 case studies from Global Compact signatories around the world outlining policies and practices to implement human rights within their own operations and spheres of influence. March 2008. Protect, respect and remedy: a framework for business and human rights Source: United Nations John Ruggie Responding to the invitation by the Human Rights Council for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises to submit his views and recommendations for its consideration, this report presents a conceptual and policy framework to anchor the business and human rights debate, and to help guide all relevant actors. The framework comprises three core principles: the State duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and the need for more effective access to remedies. The three principles form a complementary whole in that each supports the others in achieving sustainable progress. April 2008 (pdf version).    Corporations and sustainable development Finding the way forward: how could voluntary action move mining towards sustainable development? Source: International Institute for Environment and Development Jim Walker and Steve Howard Finding the Way Forward reviews the role of voluntary initiatives in the mining industry. Here the term ‘voluntary initiative’ is used to denote coordinated activities undertaken by groups of companies to go beyond the environmental and social performance requirements set by legislation (pdf version). World Business Council for Sustainable Development A coalition of 170 international companies united by a shared commitment to sustainable development via the three pillars of economic growth, ecological balance and social progress. Its members are drawn from more than 35 countries and 20 major industrial sectors. Corporate social responsibility and development: towards a new agenda? Source: UNRISD UNRISD organized a two-day conference entitled "Corporate Social Responsibility and Development: Towards a New Agenda?", which was held on the 17th and 18th November 2003 in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. A review of the corporate social responsibility programmes of the platinum mining industry in the North West Province Source: Bench Marks Foundation Many mining operations confuse corporate social responsibility with philanthropy and/or hand outs to communities. This analysis suggests that corporate social responsibility reaches beyond labour rights and environmental concerns to include the communities disrupted by corporate activities. Communities have a right of access to housing, health care, and affordable medicines - including anti-retrovirals for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Management and investors will not voluntarily act in the interest of society and the environment. June 2007 (pdf version).    Corporate initiatives on business responsibility World Business Council for Sustainable Development Coalition of 165 international companies united by a shared commitment to sustainable development via the three pillars of economic growth, ecological balance and social progress. Business and Sustainable Development For the business community, sustainability is more than mere window-dressing. By adopting sustainable practices, companies can gain competitive edge, increase their market share, and boost shareholder value. Business for Social Responsibility Global organization that helps member companies achieve success in ways that respect ethical values, people, communities and the environment. Caux Round Table Global network of senior business leaders from Europe, Japan, and North America committed to principled business leadership, who believe that business has a crucial role in developing and promoting equitable solutions to key global issues. Ethical Trading Initiative Alliance of companies, NGOs, and trade union organizations committed to working together to identify and promote ethical trade -good practice in the implementation of a code of conduct for good labour standards, including the monitoring and independent verification of the observance of ethics code provisions, as standards for ethical sourcing. Institute of Business Ethics The Institute of Business Ethics was established in 1986 to encourage high standards of corporate and business behaviour and the sharing of best practice. Sustainable Business Sustainable Business uses the Internet to accelerate the spread of sustainable business practices by increasing market penetration of sustainable products, services, and the companies that produce them. World Monitors Consulting group based in New York City that provides expertise to multinational companies, non-governmental and multilateral organizations seeking to align their business practices with human rights standards around the world. Ethos Institute of Business and Social Responsibility Brazilian association of companies of any size and/or sector that are interested in developing their activities in a socially responsible manner. Partners in Change Partners in Change (PiC) works to promote Corporate Social Responsibility in India and other countries in the South Asia region. International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) The ICC is using its website to publicize how the private sector is fulfilling the UN's Global Compact through corporate actions. Empresa - Chile American alliance of CSR-based business organizations that promotes corporate social responsibility (CSR) throughout the Americas. National Business Initiative (NBI) The NBI is a vehicle for business to act collectively in partnership with the South African government to build a stable democracy in which a market economy functions to the benefit of all citizens. Global Leadership Network Open Access Source: Global Leadership Network The United Nations Global Compact, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Global Leadership Network (GLN) research team at AccountAbility and the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship in London have created a joint partnership to promote the integration of responsible business practices into core business strategy. This partnership was launched at the UN Global Compact Summit on 5-6 July 2007 in Geneva. The four partners have launched an exclusive website for UN Global Compact signatories, IFC clients and the wider private sector in emerging markets. The website provides free access to GLN’s interactive tool. July 2007. Corporate social responsibility and children's rights in South Asia Source: Save the Children This document presents examples of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives within the context of children's issues in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. According to the study, CSR initiatives for children have a positive impact and in some cases can be more effective than Government or NGO led initiatives. Yet, children's issues often do not get sufficient consideration in the corporate agenda. Moreover, most of the CSR initiatives that do target children often follow the welfare approach. The programmes seldom involve children as social actors and partners in their own development. Also, more needs to be done to build partnerships with the government and civil society institutions to make the initatives more effective. August 2007 (pdf version).    Other initiatives Business Responsibility for Sustainable Development Source: UNRISD This project promotes research and policy dialogue on corporate social and environmental responsibility. It examines whether or not transnational corporations and other companies are taking meaningful steps to improve their social and environmental record, particularly in developing countries. The project involves field work in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore and South Africa. Global Reporting Initiative Multi-stakeholder process and independent institution whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. These Guidelines are for voluntary use by organisations for reporting on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of their activities, products, and services. Realia Group Realia Group uses experiential exercises to teach individuals and companies the skills necessary to capture the competitive advantages from sustainability -the integration of economic, environmental and social progress. SustainAbility International consultancy specializing in business strategy and sustainable development –environmental improvement, social equity and economic development. CEDHA’s Responsible Business Program The goal of the Program is to catalyze and enable adoption of a socially and environmentally responsible business practices. In the website, you can find a framework for improving business performance -financial, environmental, and social. Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) The Guidelines are recommendations addressed by governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from adhering countries. They provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct in a variety of areas including employment and industrial relations, human rights, environment, information disclosure, competition, taxation, and science and technology. Global Reporting Initiative Multi-stakeholder process and independent institution whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum International educational charity set up in 1990 to promote responsible business practices internationally that benefit business and society, and which help to achieve social, economic and environmentally sustainable development, particularly in new and emerging market economies. Institute of Social and Ethical AccountAbility International, not-for-profit, professional institute dedicated to the promotion of social, ethical and overall organizational accountability, a precondition for achieving sustainable development. Business Partners for Development This initiative was designed to study, support and promote strategic examples of partnerships involving business, government and civil society working together, with the World Bank Group as an equal partner, for the development of communities around the world. Social Accountability International U.S.-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, implementation and oversight of voluntary verifiable social accountability standards. Social Accountability International (SAI) works to improve workplaces and combat sweatshops through the expansion and further development of the currently operative international workplace standard, SA8000, and its associated verification system. Covalence Private limited company founded by a group of six professionals from finance and social sciences. The company measures the ethical performance of multinational enterprises. Focusing on developing countries, the system allows civil society organizations to raise the awareness of enterprises by communicating their information and feeding the database. The Jus Semper Global Alliance The Living Wages North and South Initiative (TLWNSI) constitutes the sole program of The Jus Semper Global Alliance (TJSGA). TLWNSI is a long-term program developed to contribute to social justice in the world by achieving fair labour endowments for the workers of all the countries immersed in the global market system. It is applied through its program of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Accountability Rating The Accountability Rating of the world's 100 largest companies has been widened this year to reflect companies' actual social and environmental performance as well as their strategy and processes. The Accountability Rating, devised by csrnetwork and AccountAbility and published annually in Fortune magazine, ranks the Fortune Global 100 companies, examining how successfully they integrate responsible business practices into core activities. The ETI code of labour practice: do workers really benefit? Source: Ethical Trading Initiative The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is an alliance of companies, trade union and non-government organisations committed to improving working conditions in global supply chains. ETI members commit to require their suppliers to comply with the ETI Base Code: a voluntary code of labour practice developed in 1998. Has ETI improved worker's lives? August 2007.    The Global Compact: official information Official site About the Global Compact, the network, news and events, companies involved, and more information. The Ten Principles The Global Compact's nine principles in the areas of human rights, labour and the environment (pdf format). Database of participants Searchable database of all Global Compact participants, including links to companies' Communications on Progress (COP) and other relevant examples of corporate practice (Case Stories) in implementing the Global Compact's ten principles. This database is updated on a daily basis. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the Global Compact The Secretary General's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, 31 January 1999. Global Compact Leaders Summit Leaders of corporations, international labour and civil society, in addition to select government ministers held this summit on 24 June 2004 at the UN headquarters in New York. A Global Compact Counter-Summit was held on 23 June by members of international civil society. Global Compact Quarterly Source: UN Global Compact The Compact Quarterly endeavors to provide Global Compact participants, stakeholders and observers with a range of thought-provoking articles, interviews and updates on topics related to the initiative, as well as to corporate responsibility in general. The Compact Quarterly, produced by the Global Compact Office, is published four times a year -- at the beginning of each calendar quarter -- and appears in electronic form. Local Network Report: deepening the engagement of participants at the local level Source: UN Global Compact The UN Global Compact and the Barcelona Centre for the Support of the Global Compact launched the first comprehensive survey of Global Compact Local Networks. The report presents a detailed analysis of 90 emerging and existing networks and showcases numerous examples of network activities from all regions of the world. The report presents lessons learned regarding how networks emerge and are sustained, as well as how they deliver local results and contribute to the overall mission of the UN Global Compact. December 2007 (pdf version).    The Global Compact: analyses and reports Global Compact has potential problems, not win-win Source: Third World Network Chakravarthi Raghavan Growing partnerships between the United Nations system and transnational corporations (TNCs) is not a pragmatic win-win relationship, but one involving multiple agendas and posing problems and UN agencies pursuing this route face a number of hard choices, warns Peter Utting, Project Leader at the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). High time for UN to break 'partnership' with the ICC Source: Corporate Europe The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a lobby group with over 7000 corporate members, is a prominent partner in UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's Global Compact and has played a key role in shaping it from the start. While this alliance has provided momentum to the Global Compact, it also seriously undermines its credibility. The Global Compact: why all the fuss? Source: UNRISD Peter Utting Perhaps the main problem with the Global Compact is not so much who is involved, its legitimization of big business or even its weak compliance mechanism, but rather the trade-offs and diversions it seems to generate whether by design or default. Beware, the term 'sustainable development' has been hijacked Source: Infochange India Sadruddin Aga Khan Sustainable development has become a mantra for big business and multinational corporations. Worse, it has unwittingly opened the door to the gradual hijacking of the environmental movement by so-called 'corporate realists'. Building on quicksand: the Global Compact, democratic governance and Nestlé Source: CETIM, IBFAN-GIFA and Déclaration de Berne Judith Richter This publication, commissioned by Centre Europe Tiers Monde (CETIM), Geneva Infant Feeding Association (GIFA-IBFAN) and Déclaration de Berne, suggests focusing on two main lines of questioning: (1) What is the value of the Global Compact in terms of changing corporate practices? More specifically, is it an arrangement that helps shift corporate practices towards the better - or is it rather an arrangement that helps corporations continue to do their business as usual and moreover confers on them additional protection from legally-binding regulation and public pressure?; (2) What is the relationship between the Global Compact and global democratic governance? (pdf version). UN pact with business lacks accountability Source: IPS Haider Rizvi On Thursday 24 June 2004, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan convened a day-long summit on the ”Global Compact,” inviting more than 400 corporate and civil society leaders to discuss how private business can play a stronger role in making globalization more ”equitable” and ”sustainable”. His words fuelled civil society's concerns about the growing influence of corporations within the United Nations. Precarious "partnerships": Six problems of the Global Compact between Business and the UN Source: Global Policy Forum Jens Martens Thus far, the UN has not removed any company from Compact membership because of guideline violation. Therefore, many NGOs view the Global Compact and its guidelines with considerable skepticism. NGOs in the “Alliance for a Corporate-Free UN” warn that the United Nations is selling-out to the interests of major corporations and a “blue-washing” of companies that violate international standards. Critics view the Compact as an obstacle to progress on corporate accountability, rather than an instrument to promote corporate commitments to environmental sustainability, social protection and human rights. Global Compact with business 'lacks teeth' - NGOs Source: IPS Gustavo Capdevila The U.N.'s Global Compact with international big business "at the moment is so voluntary that it really is a happy-go-lucky club," says Ramesh Singh, chief executive of ActionAid, a non-governmental organisation. ActionAid and other civil society organisations of global stature, such as Greenpeace, Amnesty International (AI) and the Swiss-based Berne Declaration, fired their criticism at the Global Compact's weakest flank, which is its total lack of legal enforceability. July 2007. Whose partnership for whose development? - Corporate accountability in the UN system beyond the Global Compact Source: Global Policy Forum Europe One day before UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon chaired the second "Global Compact Leaders Summit" in Geneva, a group of NGOs sponsored a hearing to assess the UN corporate initiative. Speakers addressed the failure of the Global Compact to hold its signatories accountable for basic human rights, as well as environmental and labor standards. The speakers also discussed how many translational corporations exploit their Global Compact memberships to advance their public relations, and oppose initiatives calling for binding international regulation and "effective independent monitoring and auditing" of corporate activity. August 2007 (pdf version). Global Compact Critics Global Compact Critics is an informal network of organizations and people with concerns about the UN Global Compact. On this blog they gather and share information about the Global Compact, partnerships between the United Nations and companies, and corporate accountability.    Future ISO SR 26000 Standard ISO 26000 is the designation of the future International Standard giving guidance on Social Responsibility (SR). It is intended for use by organisations of all types, in both public and private sectors, in developed and developing countries. The standard is also intended to apply to nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and trade unions. It will assist organisations in their efforts to operate in the socially responsible manner that society increasingly demands and will stress better performance on SR. ISO 26000 contains guidelines, not requirements, and therefore will not be for use as a certification standard like ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004. It will not describe a (formal) management system, although it will provide issue-specific guidance as well as guidance on how to address these issues in an organisational context. The ISO Working Group on Social Responsibility: Developing the future ISO SR 26000 Standard Source: SOMO – Centre for research on Multinational Corporations Bart Slob and Gerard Oonk This briefing aims to inform NGOs and other civil society organisations about the ISO Working Group on Social Responsibility. This Working Group is currently developing an international standard that will give guidance to organisations on social responsibility: the ISO 26000 standard. The Working Group initiated its work in 2004 and is expected to deliver the guidance standard in the second half of 2009. The authors of this briefing argue that it is still worthwhile for NGOs and other civil society organisations to start participating in the development of the standard. At this stage of the process, there are many possibilities to influence the drafting of the standard significantly. March 2007 (pdf version).    United Nations and business UN and Business Source: Global Policy The UN and its agencies have struck hundreds of agreements with private firms for joint development projects and other initiatives. This collection of links includes articles and statements. Official information The United Nations and Business site provides information on partnerships and alliances between the UN and the private sector and foundations in furtherance of the UN Millennium Devleopment Goals. It provides guidelines for doing business with the UN and links to web sites of UN offices, agencies, funds and programmes, which have information about partnerships with the Private Sector and with foundations. Alliance for a Corporate-Free UN Source: CorpWatch Global network of human rights, environment and development groups working to address undue corporate influence in the United Nations, and to support UN initiatives to hold corporations accountable on issues of human rights, labor rights and the environment. CorpWatch serves as the Alliance secretariat. Development at risk: rethinking UN-business partnerships Source: UNRISD Ann Zammit In recent years the United Nations (UN) has increasingly engaged in what it refers to as partnership with the private sector in order to hasten the achievement of the UN's development goals. This idea underpins the United Nations Global Compact, an initiative launched in 2000 that aims to encourage business participants to improve their corporate social and environmental behaviour. Tangled up in blue: corporate partnerships at the United Nations Source: Alliance for a Corporate-Free UN Kenny Bruno and Joshua Karliner This report argues that corporate influence at the UN is already too great, and that new partnerships are leading down a slippery slope toward the partial privatization and commercialization of the UN system itself. Beyond pragmatism: appraising UN-business partnerships Source: UNRISD Ann Zammit, Peter Utting In recent years, the United Nations (UN) has emerged as one of the principal proponents of public-private partnerships (PPPs), considered by many to be a key instrument of development and an ideal to be emulated. The authors of this paper argue that idealizing the concept and its normative content, as well as the feel-good discourse that infuses much of the mainstream literature, risk diverting attention away from various tensions and contradictions that characterize UN–business partnerships (UN–BPs) and that raise questions about their contribution to equitable development and democratic governance. Both the theory and practice of partnerships suggest that thinking and policy need to go beyond evidence and assumptions about “good governance” and pragmatism. January 2007. UN and transnational corporations: a deadly association Source: TNI The recent report by John Ruggie, special representative of the UN Secretary-General on business and human rights, represents a setback in attempts to establish international control over the activities of transnational corporations. The report makes no mention of the disastrous consequences for the world’s peoples that accompany commercial agreements, bilateral treaties, privatisation and liberalisation policies and obligatory international arbitrations, especially for the most economically vulnerable sectors in developing countries. April 2007.    Corporate misdemeanors Holding corporate terrorists accountable for Bhopal Source: Third World Network Indra Sinha Consider for a moment what terror is: ‘extreme fear, fear that agitates body and mind, violent dread’ and that which causes and excites these feelings. This is how Webster's Dictionary defines terror. On the night of 3 December 1984, thousands of people in Bhopal, India suffered terror beyond definition. Farmers sow, corporations reap Source: Third World Network Features Ashesh Tayal Transnational corporations have turned bio-pirates, openly stealing knowledge created by indigenous traditions around the world. Behind the shine: The other Shell Report 2003 Source: Global Policy Forum Friends of the Earth This report will highlight Shells poor performance as a leading corporate social responsibility advocate, its failure to address the conc