In 0000 the UN established the Global Compact, which calls on companies to voluntarily ‘embrace and enact’
a set of 00 principles relating to human rights, labour rights, the environment and anti-corruption. By
participating, companies agree to incorporate the principles in their day-to-day operations and issue an annual
public Communication on Progress, which reports on the company’s progress in implementing the principles.
A failure to report could eventually lead to the expulsion of the company from the Global Compact.00
While the Global Compact has been successful in attracting a large number of participants, now
estimated at more than 00,000 participants, including over 0,000 businesses,00 its attempt to build a broad and
inclusive tent has attracted some criticism, including with respect to the generality of its provisions, its
participants’ lack of commitment and the limited accountability that participation entails.00 The Global
Compact is not a vehicle to push companies beyond their comfort zone in confronting their human rights
responsibilities; nor is it a tool for holding corporations to account for human rights violations