UN Global Compact Commemorates International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

(New York, 9 August 2012) – In observance of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the UN Global Compact recognizes the important role of business in respecting and supporting indigenous peoples’ rights.

Earlier this year, a group of Global Compact LEAD companies established a task force and initiated a project to develop guidance for businesses to act in ways that respect and support indigenous peoples’ rights, according to international standards and norms such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The member companies of the task force are Barrick Gold Corporation, Endesa, KPMG Australia, Minmetals (Australia), Newmont Mining Corporation, Repsol, Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, Talisman Energy, Teck Resources, Vale and Westpac Banking Corporation.

The group aims to:

1. better understand existing international standards, norms and mechanisms with regard to business engagement with indigenous peoples;
2. engage in dialogue and share existing good practice policies, processes, and programmes with business sector peers; and
3. develop good practice guidance for businesses to operate in accordance with international standards in this area.

Since February, the task force has convened monthly meetings to exchange knowledge and experiences and has, together with White & Case, completed the first phase of the project – mapping international standards and norms (the results of the mapping exercise can be accessed here). The group is now working with the UN Global Compact Office and indigenous advisors to develop a guide for businesses to respect and support the rights set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

Companies or indigenous representatives with expertise or case studies interested in contributing to this project should contact Ms. Alice Cope (cope@un.org) and Ms. Michelle Lau (laum@un.org) in the Global Compact Office. For further information about the project, see here.

Media Contact

Matthias Stausberg
Spokesperson
UN Global Compact
stausberg@un.org
+1-917-367-3423