the United Nations Global Compact
The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact
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 Standards
- 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.
Anti-Corruption
- Principle 10
- Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
What is the United Nations Global Compact?
The Global Compact is an initiative proposed by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the World Economic Forum held in 1999 and was officially launched at UN Headquarters in 2000. The Global Compact asks participating companies to embrace, support and enact ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor standards, the environment, and anti-corruption.