In January 2009, Merck signed on to the United Nation's Global Compact, the world’s largest and most widely embraced corporate citizenship initiative. By signing on, the Company confirms its commitment to support the Compact's 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Since the Compact's launch in 2000, the initiative has grown to more than 5,600 participants, including more than 4,300 businesses in 120 countries.

"The Global Compact recognizes that, because of the wealth that business creates, businesses are part of the solution to world peace and security and to achieving a decent standard of living and quality of life in those societies that have not yet benefited fully from globalization," said Merck Chairman, President and CEO Richard T. Clark in his letter to The Honorable Ban ki-Moon Secretary-General of the United Nations. "I am pleased to confirm that Merck supports the 10 principles of the Global Compact…[and] We express our intent to support and advance those principles within our company and entities controlled by it."

Signatories to the Compact are required to annually report their activities in support of their commitment to instill accountability, drive continuous improvement, safeguard the integrity of the UN Global Compact as a whole, and contribute to the development of a repository of corporate practices. We will report on our progress against the 10 principles of the Global Compact starting with Merck's 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report.

For Merck's performance according to the Global Compact principles, please click here.