The December 2006 Ecumenical Human Rights Commission (CEDHU) denouncement of Ascendant Copper for human rights abuses prompted the filing of a letter of complaint to the Global Compact Office on December 26. Ascendant Copper is a signatory of the Global Compact, a private sector initiative begun in 1999 by then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. The Global Compact strives to “bring companies together with UN agencies, labour and civil society to support universal environmental and social principles.” (For more information, see http://www.unglobalcompact.org/ ) Among these social principles to which Ascendant has agreed are two related to human rights.

1) Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and

2) make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Here is the full record of exchanges between the Global Compact Office, Jake Gross, the letter writer, and Gary Davis of Ascendant Copper Corporation.