About VTM

BUSINESS PLAN OF ACTION

At the World Economic Forum, Davos, on 31 January 1999, UN Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan challenged world business leaders to "embrace and enact" the Global Compact, both in their individual corporate practices and by supporting appropriate public policies.

Kofi Annan asked world businesses to fulfill and uphold the following Nine Principles, which cover topics in the areas of human rights, labour and environment:

Principle 1:
Support and respect the protection of international human rights within their sphere of influence; and

Principle 2:
Make sure their own corporations are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Principle 3:
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.

Principle 7:
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.

There are many ways that companies can integrate these essential principles into their businesses. To learn how you can participate in the Global Compact, see what companies all over the world have done to get involved, and learn about what tools organizations, associations and NGO’s have developed to help companies manage human rights, labour and environmental issues, go to UN Global Compact’s page on transforming Principles to Practice.

To learn more about these human rights, labour and evironmental issues, visit the VTM web page on Civil Societies. See what these amazing organizations, association and NGO’s are doing to promote Civil Responsibility.