Across the world, including Italy, many global challenges - such as the climate change, the growth of inequality, absolute poverty and social exclusion - are being exacerbated.
Several stakeholders are involved in ensuring sustainable development and economic prosperity. Still, while in recent years the environmental dimension has assumed primary importance in the actions of Governments and the European Union, by contrast citizens/consumers as well as business strategies and communications misperceive the social dimension as not having an equally overriding importance. As we are now halfway through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, it is important - now more than ever before - to accelerate and increase efforts in promoting the social dimension of sustainability leaving no one behind.
As a key player in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the private sector can play a fundamental role: in light of a changing European and national regulatory context oriented more and more toward a transparent reporting of corporate operations, regarding particularly the impact on the social dimension, companies are called upon to assume a priority role in order to generate long-term value. Indeed, through commitment in the social dimension, companies can bring value in different areas, from guaranteeing the quality of work and the well-being of employees, to contributing positively to the development of communities and territories in which they operate; fostering active policies for different generations and engaging to reduce social and gender inequalities; finally, promoting positive practices of decent work and protection of human rights, with the involvement of their supply chains as well.
UN Global Compact Network Italy calls upon the private sector to increase its ambition, first and foremost by asking the CEOs of companies participating in the UN Global Compact to sign this Manifesto and undertake a growing commitment in terms of targets and measurement of the social impact, being aware that top management commitment is essential to ensure that the signed principles and commitments translate into tangible initiatives for achieving sustainable development.
STATEMENT, TARGETS AND POINTS OF THE MANIFESTO
The goal of the Manifesto is to spread the ambition of an increasing engagement of the private sector in the social dimension of sustainability inside the enterprise, along supply chains and in the communities, aspiring to the value chain involvement and going beyond legal obligations where possible, in order to ensure a fair and sustainable future, leaving no one behind.
The Manifesto addresses Italian business organizations participating in the UN Global Compact. At the same time, all Italian companies, even those not participating in UNGC but committed to sustainable development, can sign the Manifesto. Reporting on the issues is not required, but signing the Manifesto is closely linked to the company’s commitment to an on-going progress towards the 2030 Agenda, with specific reference to the social dimension. Non-business organizations (NGOs, academic institutions and research centres, business organizations, public entities, etc.) are not among the Manifesto recipients.
Manifesto “Business for People and Society” (read-only)
For more information, please contact Stella Sigillò, Programme & Engagement Manager, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
