New York
2 October 2006

As part of the general strategic drive towards elevating the integrity and accountability of the initiative, the Global Compact Office today announced that it has removed 335 companies from its global list of participants .

This step conforms to the Global Compact's Integrity Measures which were first introduced in 2004 and endorsed in 2005 by the Secretary-General following a broad-ranging consultation process with all Global Compact participants and stakeholders. The Integrity Measures state that any company that has missed two consecutive annual deadlines to submit a Communication on Progress (COP) will be regarded "inactive" and marked accordingly on the Global Compact website.

“This is an important step in our drive towards enhanced quality”, said Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Chairman of Anglo-American plc, and Chair of the Foundation for the Global Compact. “While the Global Compact is a purely voluntary initiative, it is important to protect the investment that seriously committed companies and other stakeholders have made. This drive could ultimately lead to lower numbers of companies registered under the umbrella of the Global Compact; however, it is crucial that companies take seriously their commitment and demonstrate performance”.

All companies participating in the Global Compact are expected to submit an annual COP, describing the ways in which they are implementing the ten principles. Prior to being labeled "inactive", companies that have failed to submit a COP for a specified period of time are listed as “non-communicating” on the Global Compact website.

Companies listed as “inactive” are not permitted to participate in Global Compact events, and are barred from using the Global Compact name or logo. The Global Compact Office recognizes that failure to develop a Communication on Progress does not necessarily mean that a company is not implementing the ten principles.

Companies that are listed as “non-communicating” or have been labeled "inactive" can regain their status as active participants by submitting a Communication on Progress.

For more information please visit the Communication on Progress section on the Global Compact Website: http://www.unglobalcompact.org/CommunicatingProgress/index.html.

For specific questions please visit the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the COPs: http://www.unglobalcompact.org/CommunicatingProgress/COP_FAQ.html

For more information, please contact: Jeff Senne, COP Manager, Global Compact Office at senne@un.org or
Matthias Stausberg, Media Relations & Public Affairs, Global Compact Office at stausberg@un.org