At the World Economic Forum, Davos, on 31 January 1999, UN Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan challenged world business leaders to "embrace and enact", both in their individual corporate practices and by supporting appropriate public policies, the following universally agreed values and principles:

1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

   The Secretary-General asked world business to:

   1. Support and respect the protection of international human rights within their sphere of influence; and

   2. Make sure their own corporations are not complicit in human rights abuses.

2. The International Labour Organization's Declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work

   The Secretary-General asked world business to uphold:

   1. Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

   2. The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;

   3. The effective abolition of child labour;

   4. The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

   At this year's World Economic Forum, on 29 January 2001, the Secretary-General called for heightened corporate responsibility on environmental and social issues.

   "Companies are learning that as markets have gone global, so too must the concept and practice of corporate social responsibility," Mr. Annan said. "If we cannot make globalization work for all, it will work for none," he added.

   The Secretary-General announced that Goran Lindahl, the former head of ABB, would lead the effort to enlist 1,000 companies in support of the Compact by 2002. About 300 companies already support the initiative "The Global Compact is an exciting venture that can help change the world, even if only in small steps," Annan said. He urged businesses to adopt the Global Compact for corporate responsibility.

   FICSA calls for a Global Compact for international civil services, to ensure that they respect fundamental human rights and labour rights for all their employees. Binding rules are required to safeguard the rights of international civil servants. It is reasonable to expect that the United Nations should in this respect be a role model for the corporate world.