CHARLESTON -- In today's world, all companies have a global presence.

Whether they sell mining equipment in China or purchase supplies with components made in Europe, even the smallest firms are international ones.

And as such, all can be ambassadors for modern, progressive values.

The Rev. Leon Sullivan, a Charleston native, is the author of some of the most widely known guidelines for social justice used by multi-national corporations today. Jackson Kelly PLLC is scheduled to host a seminar on the Global Sullivan Principles of Social Responsibility from 3-5 p.m. March 28 at the law firm's office located at 1600 Laidley Tower.

"We have a couple of goals at least," said Al Emch, CEO of Jackson Kelly. "One is to elevate the profile of Leon Sullivan. He was a big figure on the international scene. He was very well known and we want to do anything we can to elevate him."

In 1977, Sullivan wrote the Sullivan Principles, which was a set of guidelines for companies doing business in South Africa, which at the time was ruled under apartheid. Those principles have been credited with helping end discrimination in that country. In 1997, he expanded those principles into the Global Sullivan Principles.

The second goal of the seminar is to educate state business leaders about the principles themselves, he said.

"It's important to recognize that everybody plays a role in promoting the principles," Emch said. "Government and other institutions have a role, but sometimes we lose sight of the fact that business has a role, too."

Those who adopt the principles are called "enforcers." They are to serve as examples to other companies, both foreign and domestic, said Gregory B. Simpkins, vice president for policy and program development. Simpkins is scheduled to be one of the speakers during the event.

Businesses should adopt the principles as policy for various reasons, he said.

"It helps with recruitment and retention of employees, it helps management relate more with employees, it helps with investor relations and it helps reduce the likelihood of litigation," Simpkins said. "It's positive public relations."

But promoting the principles and global social justice is the main goal of the seminar, Simpkins said.

Since Sullivan developed the principles, more than 250 companies worldwide have become enforcers, Simpkins said.

Other speakers for the event are Sullivan's daughter, Hope Masters, a past president and CEO of the Leon Sullivan Foundation and current member of the its board of directors; Ralph Perkins, senior vice president for programs and operations for the organization; and M. Karna L. Cohen, senior associate in charge of managing the Global Sullivan Principles.

And the new president and CEO of the foundation might also attend the seminar, Emch said. Howard F. Jeter is a retired U.S. ambassador to several African countries, including Nigeria. Having Jeter at the meeting will only add to its significance, Emch said.

Emch said he is hopeful the March 28 meeting will be the first related to the Sullivan Principles.

More information about the principles and the foundation is available online at www.thegsp.org.

The Global Sullivan Principles of Social Justice

Companies that adopted the principles will:

• Express support for universal human rights and, particularly, those of their employees, the communities within which they operate, and parties with whom they do business
• Promote equal opportunity for their employees at all levels of the company with respect to issues such as color, race, gender, age, 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 their employees’ voluntary freedom of association
• Compensate their employees to enable them to meet at least their basic needs and provide the opportunity to improve their skills and capabilities in order to raise their social and economic opportunities
• Provide a safe and healthy workplace; protect human 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 they do business to improve the quality of life in those communities — their educational, cultural, economic and social well being -— and seek to provide training and opportunities for workers from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Promote the application of these principles by those with whom they do business

Source: The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation