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United Nations Global Compact Communication on Progress Statement of Continued Support 1 by the Chief Executive Officer

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United Nations Global Compact Communication on Progress Statement of Continued Support 1 by the Chief Executive Officer UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT COMMUNICATION ON PROGRESS STATEMENT OF CONTINUED SUPPORT 1 BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 2 HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES 3 LABOUR PRINCIPLES 4 ANTI-CORRUPTION 5 ENVIRONMENTAL PRINCIPLES UN GLOBAL COMPACT | TABLE OF CONTENTS | 2 1 STATEMENT OF CONTINUED SUPPORT BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER “As one of the leading law firms in South Africa, we understand that our privileged position AT CLIFFE DEKKER HOFMEYR (CDH) WE upcoming black and female lawyers to advance their PRIDE OURSELVES IN A CULTURE OF careers and overcome obstacles that may otherwise comes with responsibilities hinder their progression. - responsibilities we do not SERVICE, STARTING FROM OUR ENTRANCE take lightly.” BOOM RIGHT UP TO OUR TOP FLOOR. On behalf of CDH, I reaffirm our undertaking to the ten principles of the UN Global Compact and commit Our valued clients receive quality legal advice and to advance and protect human rights, promote and experience a high level of commitment in every teach fair labour practices, consider and safeguard the interaction with the firm. This holistic approach is evident environment that sustains us, and ensure that our firm’s not only in our client relationships but in everything we governance remains corruption free. do, including our dedication to the ten principles of the UN Global Compact. As one of the leading law firms in South Africa, we understand that our privileged position comes with responsibilities – responsibilities we do not take lightly. We consider it our duty to leverage our resources, knowledge and expertise to the benefit of the clients we partner with, the communities we form part of, the cities Brent Williams, Chief Executive Officer, we work within and the country we call home. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc We believe that the most positive contribution our firm can make is within our own profession because we understand and are aware of the transformation and socio-economic issues at hand. To this end, we have launched a number of initiatives to help young and UN GLOBAL COMPACT | STATEMENT OF CONTINUED SUPPORT BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 3 2 HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES ASSESSMENT, POLICY AND GOALS whose mandate is to assist vulnerable and disadvantaged people to access justice and to forward human rights and As a responsible corporate citizen CDH is sensitive to constitutionalism through public interest work. The Pro the broader socio-economic context within which Bono Policy provides that: it conducts business and is committed to respecting and promoting human rights both internally in its • The firm has adopted and maintains a pro bono relations with its employees and externally through its policy independent of any legislation or regulation engagement with clients and communities. In 2013 as requiring mandatory pro bono work; a manifestation of the firm’s commitment to human • The firm is committed to the involvement of its rights CDH adopted a Human Rights Statement. In that practitioners and staff members in pro bono work; statement we record as follows: • All CDH practitioners and staff members • We are cognisant of the social context within which acknowledge that they have a role to play in we operate as a law firm, and we are committed to assisting and supporting the firm in fulfilling these respecting the rights entrenched in the Constitution commitments; of the Republic of South Africa, 108 of 1996 (the Constitution), and in particular the Bill of Rights. CDH has also adopted a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy and has set up a Social and Ethics • We confirm that we support upholding the rights Committee. entrenched in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter IMPLEMENTATION on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and OUR WORK IN PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS Cultural Rights and the core conventions of the We strive on a continued basis to realise our human CDH has adopted a International Labour Organisation (ILO). rights commitments in various ways. First, we dedicate Corporate Social Investment Policy, • We confirm our commitment to respecting the ten significant time and effort to ensuring in our everyday a Pro Bono Policy, and a principles of the United Nations Global Compact. conduct that we promote and respect the rights and interests of all of our employees by means of adherence Human Rights Statement. • We communicate our commitments as set out in this to the precepts of our Constitution and our domestic Human Rights Statement to our clients, employees CDH has also established a labour, employment equity, occupational health and and other stakeholders. Social and Ethics Committee safety and other relevant legislation. In this regard we In 2011 as part of its commitment to human rights, CDH recognise the need to continuously work at promoting in terms of the Companies Act, adopted a Pro Bono Policy and set up a dedicated Pro a more inclusive and diverse work culture in which the No 71 of 2008 (The Companies Act). Bono and Human Rights Practice (the Pro Bono Practice) equal rights of all are advanced and employees are UN GLOBAL COMPACT | HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES | 4 encouraged to raise any grievances in accordance with Third, through the firm’s ongoing commitment our grievance policy. Our ongoing progress in this regard to corporate social responsibility, we continue to is outlined in more detail below in the section of this COP dedicate significant financial and human resources dealing with the Labour Principles. to various social investment projects, vehicles and causes. A summary of some of our key corporate social Second, through the implementation, as described DURING THE PERIOD responsibility projects and activities for the period under below, of our Pro Bono Policy. Our dedicated Pro Bono review is provided below. SEP 2015 TO NOV 2016 Practice continues to provide thousands of hours of pro CDH DONATED IN EXCESS OF bono assistance each year in the implementation of this policy, to numerous people and organisations who are PRO BONO AND HUMAN RIGHTS WORK IN THE R15 MILLION unable to afford to pay for these services. PERIOD UNDER REVIEW In the period under review our small but dedicated We are proud to report that during the period under IN PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES Pro Bono Practice has made a material contribution to review CDH as whole donated over 8,000 hours/in promoting social justice by providing access to legal excess of R15 million in free legal services to deserving services to a number of people who would not have individuals and organisations during the period September 2015 to November 2016. been in a position to enforce their rights without the aid of pro bono assistance. We summarise some of the highlights of our pro bono and human rights work below. Through some of the new cases that it has taken on during the period under review, our Pro Bono Practice has also made an important contribution in advancing POWERS OF THE PUBLIC PROTECTOR the human rights causes of some particularly vulnerable The Pro Bono Practice represented Corruption Watch and marginalised groups of people and has worked (an NGO whose mandate is to fight corruption and to extend the boundaries of our human rights and promote transparency) in the Supreme Court of Appeal constitutional protections. It has also contributed (the SCA) in a high profile matter concerning the powers towards advancing awareness and education on various of the Public Protector (one of the several watchdog human rights issues through the hosting of key events, bodies set up in terms of Chapter 9 of our Constitution participation in other partner organisation/stakeholder to strengthen constitutional democracy). The matter initiatives, and through special project work. concerned the alleged failure by the public broadcaster Our Pro Bono Practice has also encouraged and (the SABC) and the Minister of Communications to assisted members in other practice areas in the firm comply with remedial action directed by the Public to make pro bono contributions. Many practitioners in Protector following an investigation conducted by her numerous different practice areas in our firm both at offices into various complaints of alleged abuse of our Johannesburg and Cape Town offices have given power and maladministration by the SABC. Corruption generously of their time over the 2016 year and have Watch was successfully admitted as amicus curiae in the provided invaluable assistance to countless clients. proceedings before the SCA. UN GLOBAL COMPACT | HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES | 5 In a judgment which made ground breaking findings Human Rights Commission (the SAHRC) for assistance in concerning the powers of the Public Protector (including seeking redress. We have assisted our client to institute the finding that the Public Protector has the power proceedings in the Equality Court. The SAHRC has been to make binding decisions) the SCA affirmed many joined as the second applicant in the matter because of submissions made by Corruption Watch to the Court. its special statutory mandate in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 4 The findings of the SCA concerning the powers of the of 2000 (PEPUDA)) in the Equality Court proceedings. Public Protector were subsequently relied upon and upheld by the Constitutional Court in another high profile matter We seek compensation for our client for the infringement “The Pro Bono Practice has (Economic Freedom Fighters // the Speaker of the National of his constitutional rights to equality and human dignity been assisting a member Assembly & two Others and The Democratic Alliance // the and for the emotional pain suffered by him, together with Speaker of the National Assembly & two Others) concerning an unconditional apology. Importantly, we also seek an of the South African Police an investigation into and decision made by the Public order requiring the respondent to perform community Services ..
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