House Concurrent Resolution 4

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE GLOBAL SULLIVAN PRINCIPLES OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENCOURAGING COMPANIES, LARGE AND SMALL, DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL, TO ADOPT THESE PRINCIPLES.

WHEREAS, the late Reverend Leon H. Sullivan, Founder and former Chairman of the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, initiated the Sullivan Principles in 1977; and

WHEREAS, the Sullivan Principles have been recognized as one of the most effective efforts to end discrimination in the workforce of South Africa; and

WHEREAS, on November 2, 1999, at the United Nations, Reverend Sullivan, under the auspices of Secretary General Kofi Annan, introduced the Global Sullivan Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility; and

WHEREAS, the Global Sullivan Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility encourages companies, large and small, domestic and international, to respect the law and apply the principles with integrity and consistent with the legitimate role of business; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi commends Reverend Sullivan posthumously for his contribution to protecting and strengthening human rights and dignity in the United States and around the world, and unanimously approves in concept the Global Sullivan Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility as follows:

Express our support for universal human rights and, particularly, those of our employees, the communities within which we operate, and parties with whom we do business;

Promote equal opportunity for our employees at all levels of the company with respect to issues such as color, age, race, gender, ethnicity or religious beliefs, and operate without unacceptable worker treatment such as the exploitation of children, physical punishment, female abuse, involuntary servitude or other forms of abuse;

Respect our employees' voluntary freedom of association;

Compensate our employees to enable them to meet at least their basic needs and provide them the opportunity to improve their skill and capability in order to raise their social economic opportunities;

Provide a safe and healthy workplace; protect human rights, health and the environment; and promote sustainable development;

Promote fair competition including respect for intellectual and other property rights, and not offer, pay or accept bribes;

Work with governments and communities in which we do business to improve the quality of life in training and opportunities for workers from disadvantaged backgrounds;

Promote the application of these principles by those with whom we do business; and

WHEREAS, the application of these principles will help lead to greater tolerance and understanding and advance the culture of peace:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby endorse the Global Sullivan Principles of Corporate Social Responsibility.