|
|
International Law and CSR
A wide
range of international conventions, principles and guidelines have been
developed under the auspices of the United Nations and other Inter-Governmental
and International bodies that may potentially influence the development
of corporate social responsibility. A range of these are presented below:
| Minerals Industry
Specific |
|
- Diamond
Certification - The Kimberley Process
The Kimberley Process is a negotiating process to establish
minimum acceptable international standards for national certification
schemes of import and export of rough diamonds. It is hoped that
this will stem the flow of rough diamonds from conflict areas,
termed "Blood Diamonds", in support of the existing
UN Security Council sanctions, thereby contributing substantially
to peace.
|
|
|
| Principles and Guidelines
for Trans-National Corporations |
The following principles and guidelines are focused specifically
on the activities of Trans-National Corporations.
- United
Nations Global Compact - A code of conduct for multinational
and transnational companies launched by the United Nations Secretary-General
in 2000. The nine principles encompass human rights, labour rights,
and environmental rights.
- UNHCHR
Proposed Draft Human Rights Code of Conduct for Companies
Working paper prepared by the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights (UNHCHR) - Commission on Human Rights, Sub-Commission
on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights - UN Document:
E/CN.4/Sub.2/2000/WG.2/WP.1/Add.1 - 25 May 2000. (Adobe PDF)
- UNCTC Voluntary Code of Conduct for Transnational
Corporations
The United Nations Center on Transnational Corporation (UNCTC)
was actively advocating the preparation of an international code
of conduct for Trans-National Corporations throughout the 1980's.
The center has since been disbanded and preparation of the code
has been abandoned.
- OECD
Principles for Corporate Governance
Principles and guidelines to assist OECD Member and non-Member
governments evaluate and improve the legal, institutional and
regulatory framework for corporate governance in their countries,
and to provide guidance and suggestions for stock exchanges, investors,
corporations, and other parties that have a role in the process
of developing good corporate governance.
- OECD
Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
The Guidelines are non-binding recommendations to companies, developed
and adhered to by thirty-three governments. Their objective is
to assist Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) operate in harmony
with government policies and with societal expectations.
- Global
Sullivan Principles of Social Responsibility
A set of eight principles addressing: economic, social and political
justice; human rights; equal opportunity; training; and greater
understanding among peoples, in relation to all aspects of the
activities of companies.
- Caux
Round Table Principles for Business
The Principles, developed by a network of senior business leaders
from both industrialized and developing nations, seek to express
a worldwide standard for ethical and responsible corporate behavior.
- Consumer
Charter for Global Business - Consumers International
Consumers International, the international federation of consumer
organisations, developed a Charter in 1997 based on eight consumer
rights: the right to basic needs; safety; information; choice;
a fair hearing; redress; consumer education; and a healthy environment.
The Charter sets out best business practice in areas of interest
to consumers such as ethical standards, competition, product
standards, marketing, labelling, disclosure of information and
consumer redress.
|
|
|
| International Conventions
|
|
A comprehensive listing of International Law - conventions, treaties,
declarations, codes and principles - that affect the activities
of the mineral sector is available in the MRF Law and Policy section.
This may be viewed here.
A listing of all United Nation treaties is available by subscription
from the UN Treaties website.
The following international are of relevance to corporate social
responsibility and the mineral industry.
|
|
|
| Other International
Declarations, Principles and Guidelines |
|
|
|
|
| Background Resources |
|
- Voluntary
Approaches to Corporate Responsibility: Readings and Resource
Guide - United Nations Research Institute for Social Development
(UNRISD), May 2002. The essays and resource guide in this volume
aim both to inform readers of recent developments and analysis
related to voluntary initiatives, and to highlight some of the
strengths and weaknesses of company codes of conduct and “multistakeholder”
standard-setting and certification schemes, involving NGOs and
multilateral organizations.
|
|
|
|
