How the Global Compact
can better address human rights
April 27th 2010
The Institute for Human Rights and Business will soon release a human rights review of the Global Compact. In a contribution to Ethical Corporation, Mary Robinson asks for stakeholder ideas as to how the Compact may become better attuned to human rights concerns:
Excerpt:
United Nations Special Representative on Business and Human Rights, John Ruggie, has released his latest report taking forward the "Protect, Respect, Remedy" policy framework for business and human rights.
In June, the Human Rights Council will discuss Ruggie’s report at its session in Geneva.
A few weeks later, the UN Global Compact – the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative - will mark its 10th anniversary at its Leadership Summit in New York.
The challenge is for governments, business and other stakeholders to strategically align these key corporate responsibility initiatives in order to achieve their full potential in advancing greater respect for human rights.
The Global Compact, launched by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and a handful of major companies in 2000 has - despite criticisms by some about its actual impact on responsible business performance – played a key role in bringing human rights to an ever-widening business audience in all regions.
I’ve been critical of the Global Compact at various stages along the way for not doing more to ensure that participating companies demonstrate tangible progress. But I consider myself a dedicated friend, committed to its continual improvement.
From my perspective, the Compact’s 10th anniversary is a perfect moment to consider proposals which build on its achievements and fully integrate into future strategies, lessons from John Ruggie’s developing work...
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Mary Robinson is the Chair of IHRB's International Advisory Board. She was the first woman President of Ireland (1990-1997) and served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002). Mary Robinson is currently the President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative.
