One of the early questions a company must answer in meeting its corporate responsibility to respect human rights is deciding how it will organize the human rights function internally to effectively drive the process of embedding respect for human (including labor) rights. This Good Practice Note surveys a number of company experiences in organizing the human rights function internally; based on those experiences, it draws out some ‘emerging good practice guidance’ for companies, highlighting a series of questions that may help inform corporate decision-making on how best to organize the human rights function.

The right of indigenous peoples to give or withhold free, prior, and informed consent (“FPIC”) for the use of their lands, resources, traditional knowledge, or intellectual property is among the special protections for indigenous peoples. This Good Practice Note provides background on the history of FPIC, without taking a definitive viewpoint on its legal status. The Note also explores the business case for obtaining FPIC and the challenges that are likely to arise in the process; outlines current company good practices to obtain FPIC; and discusses emerging practices that not only support FPIC but also long-term benefits for affected indigenous communities.

Empowering women to participate in full and productive employment is essential to expand economic growth, promote social development and enhance business performance. However, the positive impacts of women-focused employment practices on firms, communities and the economy are often under appreciated. This resource provides an overview of considerations for companies to support women's employment as well as examples of steps some companies are already undertaking.

Building on the 2013 consultations, and in collaboration with the UN Industrial Development Organization, the UN Global Compact supported consultations in an additional 20 countries throughout 2014. The consultations, “Engaging with the Private Sector,” focused on implementation ranging from partnerships to SME engagement to government policies. Preliminary results fed into the UN Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report. Likewise, the results were presented to Member States.

This report summarizes the proceedings of the UN Private Sector Forum on Climate Change.

Highlights the UN Global Compact's major activities and outputs working to implement its strategy each year. In addition, this report gives an overview of Global Compact governance and accountability measures, partners, funding sources and financial information.

Advances a common approach to corporate water disclosure that addresses the complexity and local nature of water resources.

Offers perspectives from companies and examples of existing projects, as well as framework of actions companies can take to support sanitation coverage in their facilities, among their suppliers, and in the communities in which they operate.

Held in New York on 19-20 September 2013, the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2013: Architects of a Better World brought together 1,200 chief executives with leaders from civil society, Government and the United Nations to unveil the Business Engagement Architecture to align and scale up business action in support of sustainable development priorities. The Summary Report provides an overview of the Leaders Summit's high-level corporate sustainability strategy discussions and the strategic recommendations and action imperatives for the future of the initiative produced at the Leaders Summit.

It contains business perspectives and recommendations in three areas: determining the core of a post-2015 agenda, including suggested sustainable development goals and targets; how to engage business and investors towards sustainable development goals; and recommending ways that Governments can advance inclusive and sustainable markets. It is the culmination of UN Global Compact consultations and surveys with thousands of businesses in all major regions.

Presents findings from the world’s largest CEO study on sustainability to date. More than 1,000 top executives from 27 industries across 103 countries assess the past, present and future of sustainable business; discuss a new global architecture to unlock the full potential of business in contributing to global priorities; and reveal how leading companies are adopting innovative strategies to combine impact and value creation. Supplemental reports include regional insights from Africa and a study of consumer perceptions.

Articulates why the business community should be engaged as a primary partner in this historic endeavor of defining the Post-2015 agenda; ideas from business in relation to developing the Post-2015 objectives and goals; and, how business (and the public sector working in long-term partnership with business) can best contribute to implementation efforts in the years and decades to come.