Organizacje pozarządowe NGO

Civil Society in the Global Compact

?I call on civil society and labour leaders to remain vigilant and engaged, and continue to hold businesses accountable to their commitments.?

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon
Global Compact Leaders Summit, Geneva, July 2007

The UN Global Compact is a multi-stakeholder voluntary initiative that asks participants, in particular companies, to engage and collaborate with other stakeholders to create a more sustainable and inclusive global economy. Companies joining the Compact make a commitment to incorporate into their business strategy and practices ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Civil society participants agree to work with companies to help advance the principles in business operations and, where possible, through partnership projects.
Civil society organizations are an important and integral part of the Global Compact and its goal to effect social change through collective action. The initiative seeks to strengthen and widen the engagement with committed civil society organizations that have an understanding of the ten principles and related expertise ? particularly in terms of helping companies translate the principles into policies and practice. In this regard, civil society organizations utilize professional and/or field expertise.

The current status of civil society participants in the Global Compact

Civil society has been participating in the Global Compact initiative from its inception in 2000. Currently almost 400 civil society organizations ? representing local, regional, and global interests ? are involved at some level.