The UN Global Compact: The Challenge and the Promise

AbstractIn this contribution, I examine the links between the human rights basis of the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and its embeddedness in the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. While the GCM grew out of a development framework, it was rapidly incorporated into the UN human rights system. Even during the negotiation of the GCM, human rights took priority over development. The resistance that was manifested against the GCM on its endorsement by the UN General Assembly was directed not against its development links, but rather concerns about its human rights impact. This paper examines the placing of migration in this dual framework and the ways in which outcomes compatible with both are achievable.

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Soft Law Engagements and Hard Law Preferences: Comparing EU Lobbying Positions between UN Global Compact Signatory Firms and Other Interest Group Types

Business and Politics ◽

10.1017/bap.2021.2 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

Onna van den Broek

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Political Representation ◽

Policy Preferences ◽

Soft Law ◽

The European Union ◽

Global Compact ◽

Un Global Compact ◽

Political Activities ◽

Policy Issues ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gone “mainstream,” the relationship between CSR and corporate political activities (CPA) has received little scholarly attention. This is problematic because firms potentially have a more sizable impact through their lobbying activities for socially and environmentally beneficial (or unbeneficial) public policies than through their own operations. This paper investigates if, and how, UN Global Compact signatory firms differ in their policy preferences on key EU proposals compared to other interest groups. To capture state-of-the-art data on firms’ policy preferences, I draw from the INTEREURO database, which includes firms’ lobbying positions on forty-three directives and twenty-seven regulations covering 112 public policy issues in the European Union. Statistical results show that Global Compact signatory firms significantly lobby for stricter regulation than non-signatory firms and industry associations, however, their positions are still lower than nonbusiness groups. These results are similar across various public policy issues and suggest that the regulatory preferences of firms’ participating in soft law CSR initiatives are more aligned with stakeholders' interests. This paper contributes to public policy literature exploring the relationship between hard and soft law as well as literature studying the political representation of divergent interest.

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The UN Global Compact in Sub-Saharan Africa

Journal of Corporate Citizenship ◽

10.9774/gleaf.4700.2007.wi.00010 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2007 (28) ◽

pp. 99-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Lothar Rieth ◽

Melanie Zimmer ◽

Ralph Hamann ◽

Jon Hanks

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Global Compact ◽

Un Global Compact ◽

Sub Saharan

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Clients, clinics and social justice

Higher Education Skills and Work-based Learning ◽

10.1108/heswbl-03-2018-0037 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 323-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Robert Collinson ◽

Alice Diver ◽

Sharon McAvoy

Keyword(s):

Human Rights ◽

Social Justice ◽

Case Law ◽

Legal Practice ◽

Law Schools ◽

Legal Ethics ◽

Global Compact ◽

Un Global Compact ◽

Content Type

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a case study of an innovative, three-module pathway designed by the Department of Law and Criminology at Edge Hill University (England) in 2014. In addition to supporting the work of its campus pro-bono law clinic, the first-two modules aim to enhance and evidence the legal skills of EHU’s undergraduate LLB students, to embed a deeper awareness of the (legal) ethics needed for sustainable legal practice (within PRME), and to highlight the increasing need for socially responsible advocates, able to defend the rights of marginalised, vulnerable clients.Design/methodology/approachThe critical analysis of the content and scope of an innovative, work-based learning LLB module pathway, which furthers the aim of the UN Global Compact and the PRME, and ties them firmly to socio-legal issues and advocacy involving recent jurisprudence.FindingsThe case law used within the modules, and the practical work of the students in the campus law clinic, are relevant to social justice issues and to the promotion of PRME values—they promote awareness of human rights principles, highlight the importance of access to legal services and provide students with knowledge of legal ethics. Enhanced employability skills flow from this.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a narrow case study but still provides a useful analysis of an innovative, PRME relevant module pathway. The model mirrors international trends in clinical legal education and also offers a template for other law schools keen to promote the concept of ethical, just legal practice.Practical implicationsThe paper posits that enhanced employability can flow from real world tasks such as advocacy for marginalised or disadvantaged groups and presents an exemplar for other law schools wishing to embed ethics/clinical law practice into their curriculum.Social implicationsThe paper highlights how the campus law clinic serves the public in a deprived region—it raises awareness of human rights and of social justice issues. It has the potential to feed into litigation on social welfare issues (housing, social security, child welfare, etc.).Originality/valueThe discussion of the human rights case law that is used in the Year 2 “bridging module” (which prepares students for working in the law clinic in their final year) is particularly relevant and is analysed in detail, highlighting how this module pathway is aimed at promoting PRME and UN Global Compact principles.

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