Tokyo, Jan 13, 2004 - (JCN Newswire) - Toshiba Corporation (TSE: 6502) today announced that its participation in the United Nations Global Compact Initiative has been acknowledged and accepted by the United Nations. The company's participation represents its support for the nine principles of the Global Compact in respect of human rights, labour rights and the protection of the environment, and a determination to integrate the values of the Global Compact into Toshiba's strategy, culture and day-to-day operations.
The Global Compact and its nine principles were proposed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in an address to The World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, in January 1999. Major companies from around the world have joined the initiative, and Toshiba is the 13th company from Japan to do so.
Toshiba Corporation has long promoted initiatives to assure business practices that meet the highest ethical and legal standards, and that also reflect the concerns contained in the Global Compact's nine principles. Most recently, in July 2003, Toshiba established a Corporate Social Responsibility Division, reporting directly to the President, that spearheads all activities related to corporate social responsibility (CSR), including legal compliance, environmental protection, customer satisfaction, human rights and employee satisfaction, and contributions to society, throughout Toshiba's worldwide operations.
What is the Global Compact?
The following brief description of the Global Compact is excerpted from the U.N. global compact web site, http://www.unglobalcompact.org/
In an address to The World Economic Forum on 31 January 1999, United Nation Secretary-General Kofi Annan challenged business leaders to join an international initiative--the Global Compact--that would bring companies together with UN agencies, labour and civil society to support nine principles in the areas of human rights, labour and the environment. The Global Compact's operational phase was launched at UN Headquarters in New York on 26 July 2000.
The Nine Principles
Human Rights
Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights within their sphere of influence; and
Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labour Standards
Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
Principle 6: eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility;
Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba is a world leader and innovator in pioneering high technology, a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products spanning information & communications equipment and systems; digital consumer products; electronic devices and components; power systems, including nuclear energy; industrial and social infrastructure systems; and home appliances.Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 740 companies, with 198,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing US$76 billion. Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm
Contact:
Toshiba Corporation
Midori Suzuki
midori.suzuki@toshiba.co.jp
03-3457-2105
Jan 13, 2004
Source: Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba Corporation (TSE: 6502) (NASDAQ: TOSBF) (FTSE: TOS)
From the Japan Corporate News Network
http://www.japancorp.net
Topic: General Announcement
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