External commitments
Since 2007, Generali has been a participant in the UN Global Compact, a voluntary United Nations initiative that encourages businesses worldwide to create an economic, social and environmental framework aimed at promoting a healthy and sustainable world, giving everyone a chance to share in the benefits. To this end, as a participant in the initiative, the group – within its spheres of influence – is committed to sharing, supporting and applying a set of ten fundamental principles on human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption.
These are universally shared principles derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration of the International Labour Organisation, the Rio Declaration and the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
Find out about the 10 principles of the Global Compact
Human Rights
Principle I
Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights within their respective spheres of influence; and
Principle II
make sure they are not complicit, even indirectly, in human rights abuses.
Labour
Principle III
Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle IV
the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
Principle V
the effective abolition of child labour; and
Principle VI
the elimination of all forms of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
Principle VII
Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle VIII
undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
Principle IX
encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption
Principle X
Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
The Global Compact supports the creation of local networks to promote the initiative and its principles in specific countries or regions. In 2013, the Global Compact Network Italy, active since 2002, established itself as the Global Compact Network Foundation Italy, of which Generali is one of the founding members.
In December 2014, Generali signed the United Nations Environment Programme's Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), a voluntary initiative, supported by the United Nations, aimed at addressing the risks and opportunities associated with environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.
Launched in 2012, the PSI are aligned with and complement the principles of the United Nations Global Compact, which promote the adoption in all industries of sustainable business practices; specifically regarding human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.
In May 2011, the Generali group signed up to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), a United Nations initiative created to support investors in the implementation of six principles, which commit them to incorporating social, environmental and governance aspects when evaluating investments. Signatories have access to a network that allows investors to share best practices, facilitates collaboration with other signatories and gives them the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities and workshops.
Following the COP21, at the end of 2015, Generali has joined the Paris Pledge for Action, an initiative that represents a unique opportunity for non-state actors to welcome the Paris Agreement on climate change and commit to implement it.
The pledge demonstrates that non-state actors are ready to play their part to support the objectives of the Paris Agreement. By joining the pledge, businesses, cities, civil society groups, investors, regions, trade unions and other signatories promise to ensure that the ambition set out by the Paris Agreement is met or exceeded to limit global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees Celsius.