Showcases business initiatives that were nominated for the Business Leader’s Award to Fight Human Trafficking. The award aims to identify and reward good business practices that aim to prevent and tackle human trafficking - an issue that is increasingly recognized as a concern and risk for the corporate world. The webinar explores innovative business approaches, with nominees sharing their good practices, challenges and lessons learned in preventing and mitigating human trafficking risks within their company’s operations and supply chains.

Explores the role of company-level grievance mechanisms, their benefits and limitations, their relationship to other means of addressing stakeholder concerns, and some key considerations when designing a mechanism to be effective in practice. Examples and perspectives from business representatives are also shared.

Aims to familiarize Global Compact Local Network representatives with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and provide an introduction to the National Human Rights Institutions as potential partners for advancing Human Rights at the local level. The first webinar features panelists from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Global Compact Network Germany, the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. The second webinar includes presentations from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Global Compact Network Australia and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Addresses how responsible businesses can mitigate the risk of association with human trafficking and forced labour in their operations or supply chains. The dilemma for business is how to detect, prevent and take corrective measures against these hidden forms of exploitation. The webinar also explores suggested best practices to help companies mitigate related risks.

Examines how responsible businesses, as well as suppliers and partners, can ensure a living wage for employees when the host country does not have a statutory minimum wage or when it fails to provide an adequate standard of living. It also explores the issue of working hours in the context of international standards, overtime and the pressure on some labourers to work excessive hours.

Addresses how businesses can operate responsibly in conflict-affected or fragile countries and weak governance zones to ensure that operations contribute to peace-building. Suggested best practices to help companies mitigate the risks of operating in conflict-affected environments are also explored.

Addresses how responsible businesses can ensure respect for human rights when working with public security forces. In particular, the webinar examines the reputational and legal risks posed by public security providers over which companies have limited control. The webinar provides good practice examples to help companies mitigate risks as they seek to protect their personnel and assets.

Provides an overview of how responsible businesses can mitigate the risks associated with human trafficking and exploitation of migrant workers in their operations and supply chains. Participants will examine situations where migrant workers form a significant part of the workforce and do not have adqueate protection from the government. Issues include violation of international standards, lack of monitoring mechanisms or human rights trainings for relevant state authorities. The webinar will also explore best practices to help multinational companies detect, prevent and take corrective measures against such hidden forms of exploitation.

The United Nations has worked since its founding to achieve a shared, secure and sustainable future for all of the world's people. The vision and aspirations of the first United Nations members in 1945, as they set out to be "architects of a better world", remain a beacon today – not just for Governments, but also for the thousands of companies and civil society organizations that have become key partners in tackling our world's most pressing challenges. Chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2013: Architects of a Better World brought together chief executives with leaders from civil society, Government and the United Nations to unveil a new global architecture for corporate sustainability. Photo & Video Credits: Brian Thompson, Devin, euronews, Flashback (The New History GCSE Series), Intel Corporation, Jurjen Versteeg and Synple, Microsoft Corporation, Planetary Collective and Piranha, The Rock Family Worship Center, Silverstein Properties Inc, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Organized by the Global Compact Network China, the China Summit on Caring for Climate aimed to raise awareness of climate change, disseminate best practices, and enable businesses from China and abroad to tackle the issue together through innovation and cooperation. The Summit, with support from the Chinese government, introduced national policies and regulations related to climate change. The outcomes of the meeting will be submitted to relevant Chinese authorities as well as the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit and Caring for Climate Business Forum.

A collections of videos from the 5th Annual Women's Empowerment Principles Event in New York. These videos feature panelists showcasing what UN Global Compact participants are doing to contribute to gender quality and strengthening the Women's Empowerment Principles. Closing remarks by H.E. His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

UN Global Compact Executive Director Georg Kell speaks with Matthew Bishop, New York Bureau Chief and Business Editor of The Economist, about the state of corporate sustainability around the world. Watch the complete interview at www.newswire.fm. (January 2013)