ethicaltradesolutions.dk

UN Global Compact is a worldwide network initiated by UN general secretary Kofi Annan in the year 2000. Companies around the globe were invited to join and participate in the work for a more sustainable economy.

UN Global Compact is based upon ten principles covering human rights, fundamental rights at work, protection of the environment and fighting against corruption. The principles are derived from The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and The United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

About 4.000 companies from more than 120 countries have joined Global Compact, out of which are nearly 100 Danish companies.

Participants in Global compact are obliged to support the ten principles and to publish this support e.g. by communicating about their support on the website of GC once a year. In addition they are expected to carry out smaller or larger projects to support a sustainable economy.

In order to join the GC network a company must send a letter directly to the General Secretary of the UN. Read more about this procedure at http://www.unglobalcompact.org/

The ten principles are:
1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
2. make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
4. the elimination of all forms of forced an compulsory labour;
5. the effective abolition of child labour; and
6. the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
8. undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
9. encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
10. Businesses should work against corruption in al its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Max havelaar

Fair Trade