Environment

UN General Assembly Renews the UN Global Compact's Mandate

Dec 2, 2011 2:00 PM ET

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) New York, NY – 2 December 2011 – The Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (Economic and Financial Committee) has adopted a resolution on the evolving relationship between the United Nations and the private sector.

The resolution, under General Assembly agenda item 26 (Towards Global Partnerships), recognizes “the vital role the UN Global Compact Office continues to play with regard to strengthening the capacity of the United Nations to partner strategically with the private sector.” It states that the Global Compact’s activities are “in accordance with its General Assembly mandate to advance United Nations values and responsible business practices within the United Nations system and among the global business community”.

Noting an increase in the number of public-private partnerships globally, UN Member States welcome efforts by all relevant partners, including the private sector, to engage in development and recognize the critical role the private sector plays in the realization of internationally agreed goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.
 
The resolution places a special emphasis on promoting a gender perspective in global partnerships, and welcomes the Women’s Empowerment Principles, requesting Global Compact Local Networks to promote them widely.
 
UN Member States underlined the importance of the Global Compact’s integrity measures – including the Communication on Progress requirement, dialogue facilitation processes and policy on the use of the Global Compact logo.
 
Governments also take note with appreciation of the annual UN Private Sector Forum and the Private Sector Track at the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in 2011, both organized by the Global Compact in cooperation with other partners.
 
The resolution was agreed by consensus with 67 UN Member State sponsors. This strong governmental support offers enormously important encouragement for the Global Compact’s work and reinforces the mandate of the UN to engage in public-private partnerships that advance humanitarian and development objectives.
 
The resolution draws upon the report of the UN Secretary-General on "Enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners, in particular the private sector", which was developed at the request of Member States in General Assembly Resolution A/RES/64/223. The 2009 resolution called on the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the proposed modalities for enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and all relevant partners.

 

United Nations Global Compact

Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies around the world to align their strategies and operations with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of broader UN goals. Through the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible corporate policies and practices, business can help ensure that markets advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere. With more than 6,300 business participants in over 135 countries, the Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. www.unglobalcompact.org.

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United Nations Global Compact logo

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