Business for Peace Kicks Off Local Network Event Series in Colombia

(Bogota, 30 October 2013) – The UN Global Compact, together with its Local Networks, has kicked off a series of Business for Peace (B4P) national events to catalyze collaborative action to advance peace in the workplace, marketplace and local communities. These localized events follow the global launch of B4P by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last month at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York.

The first country-level launch event, "Empresas por la paz", was hosted by the Global Compact Local Network Colombia. Capitalizing on the momentum of ongoing Colombian peace talks, the event featured a series of multi-stakeholder workshops and dialogues on the contributions business can make to the peace process. The meeting reinforced the interests of business in becoming active participants in the Business for Peace initiative, and provided an opportunity for four new companies to join the platform. 

In addition to over 120 representatives from companies, Government institutions and embassies in attendance, the event was attended by Colombian Vice President Angelino Garzón. He noted: “There used to be a belief that military actions were the solution to our conflict. Forty-nine years later peace negotiations are prioritized.”

Mónica de Greiff, President of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, stated: “I am committed, both personally, and on behalf of Bogota's Chamber of Commerce, to promote, coordinate and develop the Business for Peace platform, by leading a roundtable within the Global Compact Local Network Colombia where B4P signatories can identify local priorities and focus areas.” She added, “This will also create partnerships, in order to perform actions that contribute to peace building, stability and economic and social development.”  

As peace can have different meanings, Global Compact Local Networks serve an essential role in rooting the B4P platform within local contexts and supporting companies to take action to advance peace. Melissa Powell, Head of Strategy and Partnerships and Business for Peace at the UN Global Compact, noted how B4P will help companies to implement responsible business practices in high-risk and conflict-affected areas and welcomed Colombia’s leadership as the first country launch in this regard.

Mauricio López Gónzalez, Executive Director of the Global Compact Local Network Colombia, also commented on the importance of private sector involvement in the construction of peace, “not only through employment generation, but through partnerships with the initiatives that involve participation of local communities in high-conflict areas”.

An academic discussion panel was held with several experts, including Rafael Grasa, President of the International Catalan Institute for Peace, and Maria Victoria Llorente, President of the Fundacion Ideas Para La Paz, on peace building as a multidimensional process that requires the participation of all stakeholders, and the importance of public-private partnerships to generate solutions that foster peace.

Following is a list of Colombian B4P signatory companies and business associations:

• View Agenda
• Learn about Business for Peace
• For more information about "Empresas por la paz" and to contact the Global Compact Local Network Colombia, click here.   

Contact

Melissa Powell
Head, Business for Peace
UN Global Compact
Powell1@un.org