UN Global Compact by Kontrapunkt

Since the inception of the initiative eight years ago, the UN Global Compact has changed dramatically in scope and size. Today, thousands of companies from all regions of the world, international labour and civil society organizations are engaged in the Global Compact, working to advance ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.

In order to ensure continued growth, however, a pre-condition is to build more awareness and establish a better understanding throughout the world of what the Global Compact is all about. The Global Compact Office has therefore been engaged in a branding process to identify and consistently express the essence of the Compact. The exercise has been carried out by the Scandinavian brand and design agency, Kontrapunkt, and has involved a number of stakeholder dialogues. An important outcome of the process is a new visual identity, which uses elements of the original business globe and colours as well as elements from the UN identity and it's strong heritage. The new identity - launched at the Global Compact Summit on July 5, 2007, by Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon – combines heritage, impact and straightforwardness.

What is the Global Compact?

The Global Compact offers a strategic and operational framework for organizing corporate social responsibility. As a global initiative with local networks around the world, the Compact allows companies to act consistently wherever they operate. Through the power of collective action, the Compact seeks to promote responsible corporate citizenship so that business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalization. In this way, the private sector - in partnership with other social actors - can help realize the UN vision of a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

The Global Compact is a purely voluntary initiative with two objectives:

1. Mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world
   
2. Catalyze actions in support of UN goals

The Global Compact is not a regulatory instrument - it does not "police", enforce or measure the behaviour or actions of companies. Rather, the Global Compact relies on public accountability, transparency and the enlightened self-interest of companies, labour and civil society to initiate and share substantive action in pursuing the principles upon which the Global Compact is based.

The 10 principles of the 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.

For question or comments, please contact co-managing director Rasmus Bech Hansen,   ///

July 2007