As empresas são grandes actores sociais, pelo que a sua responsabilidade social não se prende só com a sociedade em que se encontram, mas sim com todos os mercados nos quais se encontra inserida.
O global compact estabelece-se como um código de ética global que pretende harmonizar comportamentos e atitudes empresariais de forma a assegurar o respeito pelos direitos humanos, dos trabalhadores e do ambiente.
A adesão a este código não é obrigatória, mas torna-se óbvio que a aderência e o respeito pelos principios deste código possam fazer maravilhas pela imagem de uma empresa aos olhos do público.
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses
that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with
ten universally accepted principles in the areas of
human rights,
labour,
environment and
anti-corruption.
By doing so, business, as a primary driver of globalization, can help
ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways
that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
As social, political and economic challenges (and opportunities) —
whether occurring at home or in other regions — affect business more
than ever before, many companies recognize the need to collaborate and
partner with governments, civil society, labour and the United Nations.
This ever-increasing understanding is reflected in the Global Compact's
rapid growth. With over 8700 corporate participants and other
stakeholders from over 130 countries, it is the largest voluntary
corporate responsibility initiative in the world.
Endorsed by chief executives, the Global Compact is a practical
framework for the development, implementation, and disclosure of
sustainability policies and practices, offering participants a wide
spectrum of workstreams, management tools and resources — all designed
to help advance sustainable business models and markets. (See
How to Participate.)
Overall, the Global Compact pursues two complementary objectives:
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Mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world
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Catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
With these objectives in mind, the Global Compact has shaped an
initiative that provides collaborative solutions to the most fundamental
challenges facing both business and society. The initiative seeks to
combine the best properties of the UN, such as moral authority and
convening power, with the private sector’s solution-finding strengths,
and the expertise and capacities of a range of key stakeholders. The
Global Compact is global and local; private and public; voluntary yet
accountable.
The benefits of engagement include the following:
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Adopting an established and globally recognized policy framework for
the development, implementation, and disclosure of environmental,
social, and governance policies and practices.
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Sharing best and emerging practices to advance practical solutions and strategies to common challenges.
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Advancing sustainability solutions in partnership with a range of
stakeholders, including UN agencies, governments, civil society, labour,
and other non-business interests.
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Linking business units and subsidiaries across the value chain with
the Global Compact's Local Networks around the world — many of these in
developing and emerging markets.
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Accessing the United Nations' extensive knowledge of and experience with sustainability and development issues.
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Utilizing UN Global Compact management tools and resources, and the
opportunity to engage in specialized workstreams in the environmental,
social and governance realms.
A more detailed analysis of the benefits of participation in the Global Compact can be found in
The Importance of Voluntarism — which also focuses on the importance of the Global Compact as a
complement rather than substitute for regulatory regimes
Finally, the Global Compact incorporates a transparency and
accountability policy known as the Communication on Progress (COP). The
annual posting of a COP is an important demonstration of a participant's
commitment to the UN Global Compact and its principles. Participating
companies are required to follow this policy, as a commitment to
transparency and disclosure is critical to the success of the
initiative. Failure to communicate will result in a change in
participant status and possible expulsion.
In summary, the Global Compact exists to assist the private sector in
the management of increasingly complex risks and opportunities in the
environmental, social and governance realms, seeking to embed markets
and societies with universal principles and values for the benefit of
all.
