Pax Communication’s client Investors Against Genocide, together with the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO,) today wrote supporters with an update regarding recent positive developments in their engagement with the UN Global Compact over the complaint against PetroChina. According to the complaint, PetroChina, a UN Global Compact participant, should engage with the Government of Sudan to help end the genocide in Darfur.
On February 9, the group received a letter from Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, vice chair of the Global Compact Board. In the letter, Mr. Moody-Stuart says that the Board will discuss the matter “fully” at its next meeting and that it will “review the processes described” in the Compact’s Integrity Measures.
Following the refusal by the Global Compact Office to accept and act upon the allegations against PetroChina, a participant in the Compact, we had decided to write a letter to all the members of the Board, asking them to reconsider the ill-advised initial response. This approach seems to have had a positive impact.
This is one of the most relevant passages of Mr. Moody-Stuart’s letter:
“I have followed this issue with great interest and been involved in many discussions on the subject. I can assure you that this matter, including your letters, the communications of the Global Compact Office and this letter, will be fully discussed at the next board meeting of the Global Compact. We will also review the processes described in the integrity measures to see whether greater clarity is needed.”
According to the Global Compact website, the next meeting of the Board is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2009. Due to the urgency of this and other issues, we have replied to Mr. Moody-Stuart requesting that Board schedule and convene a meeting in the first half of this year, and that they allow time for our organizations to present to the Board and respond to questions. We are now awaiting a reply.
