2010 saw the launch of one of the most eagerly awaited
International Standards of recent years, ISO 26000, which provides guidance to
both business and public sector organizations on social responsibility (SR).
ISO 26000 was developed to respond to a growing world need for clear and
harmonized best practice on how to ensure social equity, healthy ecosystems and
good organizational governance, with the ultimate objective of contributing to
sustainable development. To increase awareness and understanding of what the
standard involves and how it was developed, ISO has published two informative
brochures, which are partly reproduced here :
• ISO 26000
project overview
• Discovering
ISO 26000.
ISO
26000:2010 provides guidance rather than requirements, so it cannot be
certified to unlike some other well-known ISO standards. Instead, it helps
clarify what social responsibility is, helps businesses and organizations
translate principles into effective actions and shares best practices relating
to social responsibility, globally. It is aimed at all types of organizations
regardless of their activity, size or location.
The
standard was launched in 2010 following five years of negotiations between many
different stakeholders across the world. Representatives from government, NGOs,
industry, consumer groups and labour organizations around the world were
involved in its development, which means it represents an international
consensus. ISO 26000:2010 provides guidance to all types of organizations,
regardless of their size or location, on:
·
concepts,
terms and definitions related to social responsibility;
·
the
background, trends and characteristics of social responsibility;
·
principles
and practices relating to social responsibility;
·
the
core subjects and issues of social responsibility;
·
integrating,
implementing and promoting socially responsible behaviour throughout the
·
organization
and, through its policies and practices, within its sphere of influence;
·
identifying
and engaging with stakeholders; and
·
communicating
commitments, performance and other information related to social
responsibility.
ISO
26000:2010 is intended to assist organizations in contributing to sustainable
development. It is intended to encourage them to go beyond legal compliance,
recognizing that compliance with law is a fundamental duty of any organization
and an essential part of their social responsibility. It is intended to promote
common understanding in the field of social responsibility, and to complement
other instruments and initiatives for social responsibility, not to replace
them.
In
applying ISO 26000:2010, it is advisable that an organization take into
consideration societal, environmental, legal, cultural, political and
organizational diversity, as well as differences in economic conditions, while
being consistent with international norms of behaviour.
ISO
26000:2010 is not a management system standard. It is not intended or
appropriate for certification purposes or regulatory or contractual use. Any
offer to certify, or claims to be certified, to ISO 26000 would be a
misrepresentation of the intent and purpose and a misuse of ISO 26000:2010. As
ISO 26000:2010 does not contain requirements, any such certification would not
be a demonstration of conformity with ISO 26000:2010.
ISO
26000:2010 is intended to provide organizations with guidance concerning social
responsibility and can be used as part of public policy activities. However,
for the purposes of the Marrakech Agreement establishing the World Trade
Organization (WTO), it is not intended to be interpreted as an “international standardâ€,
“guideline†or “recommendationâ€, nor is it intended to provide a basis for any
presumption or finding that a measure is consistent with WTO obligations.
Further, it is not intended to provide a basis for legal actions, complaints,
defences or other claims in any international, domestic or other proceeding,
nor is it intended to be cited as evidence of the evolution of customary
international law.
ISO 26000:2010 is not intended to prevent the development of national standards that are more specific, more demanding, or of a different type. ISO 26000 was developed by a working group of about 500 experts. At the publication of this standard the working group was disbanded. Document(s) to support the implementation of ISO 26000: Communication Protocol – Describes appropriate wordings organizations can use to communicate about their use of ISO 26000.
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