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The Voluntary Agenda for Responsible Business was launched last week on the occasion of the Best Corporate Citizen Awards 2008.
Sri Lanka has a tradition of compassion and generosity: note the spirit of Shramadana (volunteerism) or philanthropy which is integral to our Sri Lankan culture. Also, the private sector now shoulders part of the burden of development, contributing towards poverty alleviation and provide opportunities for deprived segments of society. In today’s context, contributing to building a peaceful nation is also part of the business sector’s responsibility.
Philanthropists in the business community have contributed on an ad-hoc basis when disaster struck or needs arose, however most generous deeds have been chiefly fragmented in their approach.
The Voluntary Agenda for Responsible Business was developed so that the business sector would now have a set of voluntary principles to enable a multi-stakeholder action.
The Agenda will help define a role for business in an increasingly complex social context and will be a vehicle for businesses to address all issues of exclusion and deprivation in partnership with the Government and civil society. These actions, as far as possible, should be aligned with national priorities, developmental policies, global strategies such as the Millennium Development Goals, Decent Work Programme and the Global Compact.
Companies may use the agenda as a guide to develop interventions in four ways to become a trusted social partner; Core business activities, Social investment, Policy dialogue, Co-ordination and Action. The Agenda also lists down principles that are internal and external to the company’s business.
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is partnered in this initiative by the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries, The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, International Alert, the UN, UNDP, International Labour Organization, Global Compact Network Sri Lanka and the Corporate Volunteerism Network.
The Agenda has to be collectively promoted to ignite individual commitment and meaningful action; collectively there is potential for extraordinary power and action. Those interested could contact the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce for further details.
