|
ICC
celebrates Anti-Corruption Day
 |
| Fighting
Corruption: a corporate practices manual
can be ordered online at the ICC Business Bookstore |
Paris,
9 December 2004
-- ICC is reaffirming its commitment to fight corruption in all its forms
by celebrating the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day on
9 December.
To mark the occasion,
the UN Global Compact - which challenges companies to uphold ten basic
principles in labour standards, environment protection and human rights
- is launching a worldwide effort to raise awareness and deepen the commitment
of its participants to combat corruption.
Backing UN efforts,
François Vincke, Chair of the ICC Commission on Anti-Corruption,
confirmed ICC's intent to stand ready to help companies play their part:
"Business is
pleased to see that the fight against corruption has been increasing in
momentum over the last year and is now on top of the global agenda. As
the world business organization, ICC will continue to develop rules of
conduct and create practical tools to help companies live up to their
commitment to fight corruption," he said.
Mr Vincke added that
in light of new developments, ICC's Commission on Anti-Corruption was
currently updating the ICC rules of conduct against extortion and bribery.
The launch of the
UN-led effort follows hot on the heels of a number of initiatives taken
recently to combat extortion and bribery. These include the signing of
the UN Convention against Corruption in Merida, Mexico, in December 2003
and the June 2004 addition of a 10th principle against corruption in the
Global Compact, which reads: "Business should work against all forms
of corruption, including extortion and bribery."
Corruption, exortion
and bribery, and their effect on international bu
siness have been an ICC
concern for more than 25 years. Last year, ICC published Fighting Corruption:
a corporate practices manual, to provide further practical guidance
to companies in their efforts to implement anti-corruption policies. The
ICC rules of conduct to combat extortion and bribery have also served
as a model for numerous corporate compliance policies.
ICC's Commission on
Anti-Corruption actively led the business community during the consultation
process leading up to the signing of the UN Merida Convention and to the
formal adoption of the 10th principle at a Global Compact Leader's Summit
in New York earlier this year.
In support of the
UN's efforts and persuing its own fight against corruption and bribery,
ICC will be leading business input into several dialogue events over the
next 12 months, as well as contributing to a Global Compact publication
to be released next autumn.
For further information
please contact:
Julian Kassum, Policy
Assistant
Tel. +33 1 49 53 29 26
Fax +33 1 49 53 28 59
E-mail Click here to send a mail.">Click here to send a mail.
ICC
Business Bookstore
ICC
and the Global Compact
ICC Commission on Anti-Corruption
|