UN survey reveals too many businesses neglecting human rights and corruption

LAS VEGAS (eTN) – A survey released on Monday, June 14, by the United Nations has revealed that corruption and human rights issues continue to be neglected by companies despite ongoing interest in Uni

LAS VEGAS (eTN) – A survey released on Monday, June 14, by the United Nations has revealed that corruption and human rights issues continue to be neglected by companies despite ongoing interest in United Nations-led efforts to ensure ethical corporate conduct, according to the findings of a new survey by a global initiative that seeks to foster responsible business practices.

The UN Global Compact said it surveyed a total of 1,044 businesses in 97 countries, representing nearly 20 percent of all of the initiativeโ€™s participants last year, and the key findings include that while a majority of companies reported implementation of key labor and environment policies, only 31 percent had done the same for human rights and 32 percent for corruption.

The UN says the โ€œGlobal Compactโ€ is a policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally-accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. The aim is to ensure that corporations influence markets, commerce, technology, and finance in ways that benefit economies and societies across the world.

โ€œSome of our issues are lagging behind notably anti-corruption and human rights,โ€ said Georg Kell, executive director of the UN Global Compact. โ€œThey are relatively underdeveloped compared to, say, environmental concerns and workplace issues,โ€ he told reporters Monday in New York.

The UN added, some 94 percent of companies responding to the UN Global Compact survey said that the relevance of their participation in the initiative did not decrease last year despite the global economic downturn, with 25 percent considering the initiative more relevant.

Overall, only 36 percent of companies reported having a corporate responsibility or ethics officer โ€“ down from 39 percent in 2008, the UN added.

About 78 percent of respondents said โ€œincreasing trust in the companyโ€ was the main reason for their remaining engaged in the Global Compact.

According to the UN, the survey also showed that ensuring supply-chain partners of businesses adhered to the Global Compact principles is rising on the agenda of companies of all sizes, although it remains a challenge to translate policy into action.

Half of all respondents reported engaging in partnerships linked to development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) โ€“ the internationally-agreed social development targets that countries are trying to achieve by 2015 โ€“ with projects on the environment, gender equality, and poverty reduction being the top areas of focus.

โ€œThe findings of this Implementation Survey show that the Global Compact continues to contribute significantly to the diffusion of responsible business practices around the world,โ€ said Mr. Kell.

โ€œNevertheless, the survey also shows very clearly that business must do more in critical areas to regain trust and build confidence. In policy and practice, companies of all sectors and sizes must redouble their efforts to protect human rights, fight corruption, and advance transparency and accountability,โ€ he added.

Hundreds of corporate leaders and government officials from across the world will gather in New York on June 24 for a two-day summit chaired by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon to boost the role of responsible business and investment in building sustainable and inclusive markets, Mr. Kell announced.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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