The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact

The UN Global Compact's ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption enjoy universal consensus and are derived from:

· The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

· The International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

· The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

· The United Nations Convention Against Corruption

The UN Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption:



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

· 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.



