Colombia: News

Coca-Cola Sponsors Colombian Dialogue on the Role of Business in Promoting Peace

The Coca-Cola Company is providing support for a series of three conferences, entitled Dialogue on Business, Development, Peace and Human Rights in Colombia. The conferences are being co-hosted by the International Business Leaders Forum, a U.K.-based organization chaired by the Prince of Wales, the UN Global Compact and the Fundación Ideas para la Paz (Ideas for Peace Foundation), a Colombia-based non-government organization.

The three conference hosts have co-authored a report, entitled “Development, Peace and Human Rights in Colombia: A Business Agenda”, which is available to read at: http://www.iblf.org/media_room/general.jsp?id=123803.

Colombia has experienced violence for many decades. Political leaders, multinational and Colombian corporations, labor leaders, journalists and civil society have all been affected. Despite the volatile environment, The Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers have maintained operations and have worked to provide safe, stable economic opportunities for the people of Colombia for more than 70 years. The Company is supporting these conferences to promote an active dialogue about how the business community and civil society can make a greater contribution toward advancing peace, development and security in Colombia as well as in other countries affected by internal conflict.

The first of the three dialogue events took place today in Bogotá, Colombia. The conference brought together leaders from the Colombian and multinational business communities, Colombian government officials, representatives of civil society, and media to discuss how business can better contribute to promoting peace, economic and social development, and human rights in Colombia. Other multinational companies participating included BP, Nestle, Occidental Petroleum and Shell.  

Ed Potter, Director of Global Labor Relations for The Coca-Cola Company, participated in a panel discussion about the role of multinational companies in conflict areas. He offered examples of how Coca-Cola operates in other countries around the world where civil conflict is present, and proposed that conference sponsors establish a Working Group to develop voluntary principles for Colombian and multinational companies to adopt which promote human rights and security. Two additional dialogues will be held in the United States and United Kingdom later this year.

According to Ed Potter, “We believe there is an important role for business to play in both promoting prosperity and peace in Colombia, and Coca-Cola is committed to sharing its knowledge and leadership where possible. We will be working with leading non-government organizations, labor and social justice groups and the local government to look for solutions to anti-union violence in Colombia which we can then expand to other zones of conflict around the world.”

Coca-Cola representatives also met with Colombian government officials and representatives of several leading civil society organizations during their visit to Bogotá. The meetings were designed to expand the Company’s dialogue with a variety of stakeholders in Colombia, and explore ways that Coca-Cola can contribute to improving economic and security conditions.

Coca-Cola has been a leading business partner in Colombia’s development and currently employs more than 2,000 workers at its bottling facilities throughout the country. The Company also has an active charitable and community relations program, including establishment of a $10 million fund to promote education and employment opportunities in Colombian communities which have suffered from violence.

Participants in the Panel dealing with Potential Contributions of the Private Sector to Peace, Human Rights and Development in Colombia: Perceptions from the International Community - Adrian Hodges (Executive Director IBLF), Jonas Moberg (Senior Advisor UN Global Compact), Ed Potter (Director, Global Labor Relations and Workplace Accountability TCCC), Paul Townsend (Director Andean Region Catholic Relief Service).

Ed Potter

Participants in the Panel dealing with The Colombian Reality: Initiatives and Expectations from Key Interest Groups - Neil Jeffery (Engaging Solutions), Alberto Franco (Director Alliance of Social Organizations for International Cooperation, Peace and Democracy in Colombia), Monsignor Hector Fabio Henao (Director Caritas Colombia), Carlos Rodriguez (President United Workers Federation), Ruben Dario Lizarralde (General Manager, Indupalma), Luis Carlos Villegas (President, National Employers Federation), Alexandra Guaqueta (Academic Director, Ideas for Peace Foundation).

Participants in the Working Group dealing with Participation Mechanisms for the Private Sector.