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Policy on Social and Environmental Sustainability (2006): Through its Policy on Social and Environmental Sustainability, the IFC puts into practice its commitment to social and environmental responsibility, including its commitment to review projects proposed for direct financing against its Performance Standards. While managing social and environmental risks and impacts in a manner  consistent with the Performance Standards is the responsibility of the client, IFC seeks to ensure that the projects it finances are operated in a manner consistent with those requirements. 
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IFC Performance Standards (2006): In early 2006, the IFC adopted new environmental and social standards to replace the out-dated safeguards governing its financing of private sector projects in the developing world. Every new IFC-financed project must now apply the new Performance Standards, which came into effect on April 30, 2006. A new Environmental and Social Review Procedure and updated Disclosure Policy underpin implementation of the new and expanded standards.  
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Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights (2003): The UN subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights adopted the Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights, which proposes an authorized interpretation of the obligations of business enterprises on Human Rights, defined on the basis of existing international law on Human Rights.
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Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: Rio Declaration on Environment and Development is a short document produced at the 1992 United Nations "Conference on Environment and Development", informally known as the Earth Summit. The Rio Declaration consisted 27 principles intended to guide future sustainable development around the world.
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ICMM Sustainable Development Charter: Devised in 1999 with the assistance of the World Bank by ICMM’s precursor, the International Council on Metals and the Environment, the charter is an international code of conduct for the mining and metals industry and consists of 32 broad-ranging management principles to guide sustainable corporate policy and practice.
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Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises:The OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises are a voluntary set of principles and standards of good practice addressed by governments to multinational enterprises.   They cover a broad range of issues relating to business ethics including human rights, development, corruption and supply chain behaviour.  The Guidelines are not legally binding but OECD governments are committed to promoting their observance.                                                                For more information, please visit here.


 

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of Corporate Governance: The OECD established an Ad-Hoc Task Force on Corporate Governance to develop guidelines to inform the efforts of Member and Non-Member governments in the area of corporate governance. Released in 1999, the OECD Principles are among the first such  guidelines to be developed by a multilateral organization. 
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Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (ILO): The MNE Declaration seeks to encourage the positive contribution that multinationals can make to economic and social progress and to minimize and resolve the difficulties arising from their operations. The principles in the MNE Declaration are voluntary in nature and encourage social dialogue. They guide multinationals, governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations in adopting social policies. 
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Convention 169 on Indigenous Peoples (1989), International Labour Organization (ILO): The ILO adopted its first convention to protect indigenous and tribal peoples from exploitation in 1957, and revised it in 1989 to reflect changes in the position of these peoples and a greater understanding of their rights from government, industry and society.  
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ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (2006): Adopted in 1998, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work is an expression of commitment by governments, employers' and workers' organizations to uphold basic human values. The Declaration covers four areas: freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; elimination of forced and compulsory labour; abolition of child labour, and; elimination of discrimination in the workplace.
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The Equator Principles: The Equator Principles are guidelines for financial institutions and provide a benchmark on social and environmental issues for project financing. Adopted in 2003 by ten international banks, the Equator Principles apply across all sectors and countries, addressing all project financing with a total capital cost of $10 million or over. As of January 2007, 45 financial institutions from 16 countries had adopted the revised Equator Principles, covering 80% of all global project lending.
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Global Sullivan Principles: Introduced in 1999, the Global Sullivan Principles expand upon the original Sullivan Principles, developed in 1977 as a voluntary code of conduct for companies doing business in apartheid South Africa. The principles cover accountability, human rights, community engagement, environmental performance, marketplace practices, ethics and value chain responsibility. 
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The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights: The Principles are intended to provide a framework within which companies in the extractive sector can ensure the legitimate security of their employees and assets without adversely affecting the human rights of people living in communities close to company operations. The Principles provide guidance on best practice in conducting security risk assessments involving a range of stakeholders, on the governance of arrangements with public security providers; and for the selection, training and accountabilities of private security providers. 
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Environmental Management Standards – ISO 14000 CD-ROM (2005), International Organization for Standardization (ISO): The ISO 14000 series is a collection of voluntary standards to help organizations meet the challenges of sustainable development. The standards provide both a model for streamlining environmental management and guidelines to ensure that environmental issues are considered within a decision-making framework. 
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African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: This charter was adopted by the organization of African Unity in 1981 and ratified by 35 of its members. The Charter reaffirms the duty of African states to eliminate colonialism, apartheid, and Zionism, and stresses that civil and political rights cannot be dissociated from economic, social, and cultural rights.
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Framework for Responsible Mining: The Framework for Responsible Mining is a joint effort by NGOs, retailers, investors, insurers, and technical experts working in the minerals sector. It outlines environmental, human rights, and social issues associated with mining and mined products.
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Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices: The Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices promotes responsibility in the diamond and jewellery supply chains, including the financial community. The scope of the  council’s work is ambitious in both breadth and depth, with the issues covered including human rights, labour standards, business ethics and community issues.  
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