.
BUSINESS RESPECT
The free email newsletter on Corporate Social Responsibility
The current edition: In this issue, we look at why 'health and safety' became a dirty word, and ponder where the balance lies.
Subscribe here
Arguments against CSR and some answers
Definitions of Corporate Social Responsibility
Discussion
The Global Reporting Initiative - is it fit for purpose?
Translations
Companies in the News
Case studies of managing a crisis
Odwalla
Johnson & Johnson
and Tylenol
Exxon Valdez
Snow Brand Milk
Products
Emerging Issues
Drugs companies and AIDS
When to quit a bad country
The Global Sullivan Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility
In 1977, the Reverend Leon Sullivan launched the original Sullivan Principles, which were designed to help persuade US companies with investments in South African to treat their African employees the same as they would their American counterparts. These princples were then relaunched in 1999 as the Global Sullivan Principles for Corporate Social Responsibility.
The Reverend Sullivan described the objectives of the Global Sullivan Principles at their launch as being to "encourage companies to support economic, social and political justice wherever they do business."
At the launch, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan declared that "Enlightened business leaders" recognize that their reputations, and even their bottom lines, are intimately tied to good corporate citizenship".
The Global Sullivan Principles refer to the support for universal human rights, equal opportunities, respect for freedom of association, levels of employee compensation, training, health and safety, sustainable development, fair competition and working in partnership to improve quality of life.
A company wishing to be associated with the Principles is expected to provide information which publicly demonstrates its commitment to them. The Principles aim to be applicable to companies of any size, operating in any part of the world. They have been endorsed and implemented by a number of business councils, campaigning non-governmental organisations, local authorities, companies and representative organisations. To date, around 100 companies have signed up to them.
 |
Not that recognition was lacking in his own lifetime. In 1992 Sullivan was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George Bush snr for his work with the poorest and disadvantaged people of the world. In December 1999, he received the Eleanor Roosevelt Award from President Clinton for his humanitarian work.
Click here for a copy of the text of the Global Sullivan Principles.
====
This page is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility site of Mallen Baker. It is constantly updated with analysis and opinion pieces on different aspects of CSR - with a mostly international focus, with some particular interests on the UK.
Initiatives such as the Global Sullivan Principles will be covered, and updated, periodically on the site, and in the free CSR fortnightly email newsletter associated with the site, Business Respect. The easiest way to keep in touch is to subscribe.
|
INSTANT CSR VOTING! |
Other initiatives of interest
Dow Jones Sustainability Index
To make any comments / suggestions re. this site, please contact mallen@mallenbaker.net
Site last updated on 18th January 2012