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Following an address to The World Economic Forum in January 1999, United Nation Secretary-General Kofi Annan challenged business leaders to join the Global Compact and support nine principles in the areas of human rights, labour and the environment. The 'Global Compact' was formally launched in 26 July 2000.

Unlike the OECD Guidelines for MNEs, the Global Compact is a wholly voluntary initiative which currently has no enforcement mechanism and no sanction for companies which breach its commitments.

Following the signing of the UN Anti-corruption Convention in Merida, Mexico on 9th December 2003, the Global Compact started consultations with companies, global business associations, trade unions and civil society to determine whether there was support for adding a 10th Anti-corruption Principle.

Whilst on the one hand it was recognised that combating corruption is fundamental to implementing the other areas of the Global Compact, there was also concern that the addition of a 10th principle might threaten its overall credibility.

After considerable consultation, the inclusion of the 10th Principle was finally announced on the 24 June 2004, during the Global Compact Leaders Summit, that: "Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery."

In April 2005, 2002 companies had signed up to the Global Compact, committing themselves to the following actions:

- send a letter from its CEO to Koffi Annan stating its support for the Global Compact and its principles;
- set in place changes to implement the principles in day-to-day operations;
- publicly advocate the Global Compact;
- 'provide annual 'communications on progress' in implementing the principles.


GLOBAL COMPACT IN AFRICA

The Global Compact together with the German development agency GTZ has set up a regional office for Sub-Saharan Africa in Pretoria in South Africa. Its aim is to promote the 10 principles in the private sector in African and promote partnerships in support of the Millennium Development Goals.

ORGANISATION

The Global Compact is a network comprising the Global Compact Office and six UN agencies: the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; the United Nations Environment Programme; the International Labour Organization; the United Nations Development Programme; the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

CONTACTS

Further information can be found at: http://www.unglobalcompact.org.