UNITED NATIONS TO CONVENE BUSINESS LEADERS SUMMIT ON 24 JUNE

UNITED NATIONS TO CONVENE BUSINESS LEADERS SUMMIT ON 24 JUNE

NEW YORK, 4 June (UN Global Compact Office) -- On 24 June 2004, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will convene the Global Compact Leaders Summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York.  The Summit will be the largest gathering ever of chief executive officers, government officials and leaders of civil society on the topic of global corporate responsibility.  Approximately 400 participants will attend the one-day summit, including hundreds of chief executive officers and senior executives of major international corporations.  President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil will deliver the keynote luncheon address.

Participants will assess the progress of the United Nations Global Compact and announce new initiatives.  Chief executive officers and other leaders will exchange experiences regarding the implementation of the Global Compact’s principles in the areas of human rights, labour conditions and the environment.

Launched by Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2000, the Global Compact today includes more than 1,400 companies.  The Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary corporate responsibility initiative, with networks and activities in more than 70 countries worldwide. 

Media representatives are invited to attend the Summit.  To learn more about the Global Compact Leaders Summit and to register and obtain United Nations media credentials for the event, please visit www.unglobalcompactsummit.org.

For more information, contact Gavin Power of the Global Compact Office, tel.:  1-212-963-4681, or Tim Wall of the United Nations Department of Public Information, tel.:  1-212-963-5851.

* *** *