GE CitizenshipUN Global Compact
The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. As a multi-stakeholder leadership initiative, it seeks to align business operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption and to catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals.
As a signatory to the UNGC, and in addition to our 2008 Citizenship Report, GE has produced this table as part of our Communication on Progress (COP). Business signatories to the UNGC are required to annually submit a COP for the UNGC web site and to share the COP widely with their stakeholders. A COP is a disclosure to stakeholders on progress made in implementing the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact and in supporting broad UN development goals. The GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (G3) are also used to support the UNGC’s annually required COP.
In addition to signing onto the UNGC, in 2008, GE Foundation funded a three-year grant to the Foundation for the Global Compact, which aims to enhance understanding of human rights dilemmas for responsible business, thereby contributing to global thought leadership and best practice especially in emerging markets. This project, Human Rights Dilemmas for Multi-national Corporations (MNCs) in Emerging Markets, will produce extensively researched, in-depth case studies of human rights dilemmas considered from the perspective of different stakeholders, as well as a set of practical solutions to these dilemmas from different stakeholder viewpoints.
The UNGC 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.
For more information about the UNGC strategic policy initiative visit the UN Global Compact web site.
UNGC 10 Principles |
Matching Report Material - Online |
Matching Report Material - Book |
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Human Rights |
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| Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights | ||
| Principle 2: Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses | ||
Labour Standards |
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| 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 | ||
| Principle 6: The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation | ||
Environment |
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| Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges |
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| Principle 8: Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility |
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| Principle 9: Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies |
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Anti-Corruption |
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| Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery | ||
For more information about the principles visit the UN Global Compact web site.