UN Global Compact Milestones
2000
Following a call to action by then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the 1999 World Economic Forum in Davos, the operational phase of the UN Global Compact was launched on July 26, 2000, at UN Headquarters in New York. The preceding months had seen much discussion over the mandate, role, and purpose of a UN initiative to promote corporate responsibility. As agreement had been reached earlier on a set of Nine Principles covering human rights, labor standards, and the environment, the Secretary-General decided to convene a high-level event bringing together business executives with the leaders of UN agencies, funds, and programs; global civil society organizations; governments; and labor and employers’ organizations. Initially signed by 44 companies, the new initiative called on business to put the Nine Principles into practice, join the UN in partnership projects to advance sustainable development, and report annually on progress made. In December 2000, the UN General Assembly underscored the role of business in its resolution A/55/215 (Towards Global Partnership). The newly formed Global Compact Office, a small section within the Secretary-General’s Executive Office, was to become the hub of the initiative, with Georg Kell named Executive Head.
HUMAN RIGHTS
"The Global Compact is about the values
that unite us. The attacks were a direct
challenge to these values - they were an
attack on fundamental human rights."
Mary Robinson
- April 2003:
NGOs increase pressure on human rights and UN internalization processes - November 2004:
Launch of the Embedding Human Rights series - January 2005:
Launch of new Human Rights tool - December 2007:
Global Compact begins year-long campaign to raise business awareness - June 2008:
United Nations extends mandate of the Special Representative on Business and Human Rights - December 2008:
Global Compact announces project on Human Rights Dilemmas for Responsible Business - March 2009:
Global Compact and UNIFEM address role of business in empowerment of women
LABOR
- October 2006:
ILO policy dialogue addresses discrimination and equality in the workplace - May 2007:
Global Compact hosts World Diversity Leadership symposium - May 2008:
Global Compact Labor Working Group convenes inaugural meeting
ENVIRONMENT
- March 2007:
Principles on Climate Leadership launched - July 2007:
Launch of initiatives Caring for Climate and CEO Water Mandate - March 2008:
CEO Water Mandate convenes inaugural working conference - April 2008:
Environmental leaders and champions gather in Singapore for the B4E Global Summit - November 2008:
Caring for Climate reaches 300 signatories
March 2009: Water Disclosure 2.0 released
May 2009:
Secretary-General encourages pro-climate advocacy by business - December 2009:
COP 15
ANTI-CORRUPTION
- January 2004:
Global Compact convenes dialogue on transparency and the fight against corruption - April 2004:
United Nations sets up inquiry into the Oil for Food program – underscores need for greater transparency - July 2004:
Launch of UN Global Compact Principle 10 - September 2005:
Oil for Food report finds systematic ills in UN management and auditing - December 2005:
UN Convention against Corruption enters into force - July 2006:
Global Compact Expert Group plans new anti-corruption tools - December 2006:
Global Compact hosts first board meeting of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative - February 2008:
Business calls on governments to establish effective anti-corruption mechanisms - December 2009:
New anti-corruption guidance sharpens rules for reporting companies
PARTNERSHIP/MDG
- September 2000:
UN Millennium Summit - June 2002:
Building Partnerships report published, which offers an overview of the growing cooperation between the United Nations and business
May 2003:
Global Compact policy dialogue on HIV/AIDS - April 2005:
Global Compact and OCHA launch new business guide on emergency aid - September 2005:
Global Compact releases Business UNusual: Facilitating United Nations Reform through Partnerships - December 2005:
UN General Assembly encourages Global Compact Office to promote partnerships - September 2008:
UN Private Sector Forum seeks long-term response to global food crisis - November 2009:
New UN business guidelines issued - January 2010:
New UN business website brokers partnerships
FINANCIAL MARKETS
- October 2003:
Global Compact opens Nasdaq - March 2004:
Global Compact initiates high-level work with financial community and stock exchanges - July 2004:
Who Cares Wins launched – ESG concept takes off - April 2006:
Secretary-General launches Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) - November 2006:
First investment fund dedicated to the UN Global Compact
April 2007:
Principles for Responsible Investment hit $8 trillion mark - June 2008:
PRI institutional investors “taking implementation to the next level” - January 2009:
Investors give new twist to good COP/bad COP - February 2009:
Private equity council members adopt guidelines for responsible investment
BUSINESS AND PEACE
- March 2001:
First Global Compact policy dialogue about private sector and zones of conflict - September 2001:
Policy dialogue on “Role and Responsibilities of Business Operating in Zones of Conflict”
May 2006:
Sudan meeting explores partnership opportunities in post-conflict societies - May 2008:
Global Compact responds to open letter on the situation in Sudan
EDUCATION
- October 2001:
Learning Forum commits to develop academic infrastructure - June 2002:
Academic Network established - February 2004:
UNGC announce intent to shape business education - October 2006:
Academic institutions agree to develop Principles for Responsible Business Education - July 2007:
Business schools to advance corporate citizenship - April 2008:
Principles for Responsible Management Education endorsed by over 100 business schools - March 2010:
Principles for Responsible Management Education Initiative adopts governance framework
LOCAL NETWORKS
Photo: Présidence de la Republique France
- December 2002:
First Learning Network Forum (ALNF) in Berlin identifies knowledge and learning gaps - June 2003:
ALNF in Berne says Global Compact needs to create guidance - December 2005:
New guidance document for Local Networks released - June 2006:
First regional meetings held in Latin America, Europe, and Asia - September 2006:
ALNF IV (Barcelona) reaches consensus on the forum’s own role as an element of the Global Compact’s governance structure - December 2007:
Report issued – Local Networks Gaining in Strength and Impact - June 2009:
ALNF in Istanbul issues report – Details How Global Compact Advanced on the Ground in over 80 Countries
COMMUNICATION ON PROGRESS – COP
- July 2001:
Early version of COP released - January 2003:
Advisory Group says companies should publish examples in annual reports – a shift in approach that leads to full COP concept - June 2004:
Global Compact launches integrity measures - March 2006:
Workshop discusses best practices in communicating progress - September 2007:
COP program becomes widely recognized - April 2008:
New functionalities improve access to Communication on Progress
"In 10 short years, that initiative has
grown to become the largest corporate
citizenship and sustainability initiative
in the world"
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Dr. Elmer Lenzen is founder and CEO of the macondo publishing GmbH, publisher of the Global Compact International Yearbook and the CSR Academy. He has a PhD in Journalism and studied at the Universities of Münster, Bochum (both Germany) and the UCR in San José (Costa Rica). In 1998 Elmer founded macondo with major business areas in publications and corporate communication. CSR plays a prominent role and macondo today is one of the leading publishing houses.