Salt & Light: Passionate About Human Dignity

In his words of the Davos address: “National markets are held together by shared values. In the face of economic transition and insecurity, people know that if the worst comes to the worst, they can rely on the expectation that certain minimum standards will prevail. But in the global market, people do not yet have that confidence. Until they do have it, the global economy will be fragile and vulnerable—vulnerable to backlash from all the “isms” of our post-cold-war world: protectionism, populism, nationalism, ethnic chauvinism, fanaticism and terrorism.” Companies and various stakeholders would, through debate, discussion, and trial and error, come to some minimal agreement on global ethical norms and practices.

 Kofi Annan saw clearly that if globalization and its ability to create massive wealth was to continue, there must be a set of ideals guiding business and insuring that the legitimate concerns of all, especially the least advantaged, were not neglected. This set of ideals, what has become known as the Global Compact, consists of 10 principles. More than 8,000 businesses throughout the world have already signed on as participants, as well as 3,000 civil society signatories.

 The 10 principles of the Global Compact focus on human rights, labor rights, concern for the environment and corruption, and are taken directly from commitments made by governments through the UN: the University Declaration of Human Rights (1948); the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992); the International Labor Organization’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998); and the UN Convention Against Corruption.

 I am convinced that the UN Global Compact is the best initiative that can meet the major challenge posed by globalization: developing a consensus on global ethical norms. The United Nations with its visibility, global reach, universality, neutrality and convening power is considered legitimate in our world today. With the local networks of the UNGC operating almost everywhere, there are channels of communication readily available.

 Through the process of persuasion, discussion and arguing about practices, for example, subcontracting to sweatshops, the norms and values that enable global governance are internalized; major players are “socialized” and the voluntary compliance of the UNGC principles shapes the new CSR agenda. It is for this reason that I have hitched my star to the UNGC and have dedicated enormous energy to advancing it throughout the world.

 —Oliver F. Williams, C.S.C. is Director of the Center for Ethics and Religious Values and professor of management at the Mendoza College of Business