Orange the World!

On 25 November, UniCredit will light up the spire of the tower at the Gae Aulenti headquarters in Milan once again in orange in support of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This is in line with UniCredit’s commitment against any form of harassment, supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to leave no one behind, which cannot be achieved without putting an end to violence against women.

The anniversary, established by the United Nations General Assembly invites governments, international organisations, NGOs and companies to organise initiatives to raise public awareness and increase commitments to end gender-base violence. The colour orange symbolises a brighter future, free of violence. It also serves as a means of demonstrating solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence.

The World Health Organisation estimates that globally around 736 million women - almost one in three - have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their lifetime (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older). Emerging data and reports from those on the front lines have shown an increase in calls to domestic violence helplines in many countries since the outbreak of COVID-19, with restricted movement, social isolation, and economic insecurity increasing women’s vulnerability to violence in the home around the world.

At UniCredit, we are committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive work environment where differences in gender, age, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation are embraced: one in which employees not only feel free to express their opinions and challenge the status quo but also feel confident to escalate issues that are important to them, without fear of judgement or retaliation.

In this respect, we have introduced specific workplace policies against Harassment, Sexual Misconduct and Bullying for the prevention, detection, enforcement, and on-going monitoring of such behaviours and the Anti-Retaliation policy to prevent, investigate and protect employees and third parties from acts of retaliation.

Group Welfare is also at the forefront of developing tailored solutions offering specific psychological support through dedicated services - such as the “Ask for help” initiative, providing high quality consultation services both for professional and personal matters. To continuously increase inclusion in the workplace by strengthening equal opportunities for engagement in childcare for all parents while ensuring job security and continued career prospects, UniCredit set a Group-wide minimum standard for parental leave across all its markets in March 2021.

The 202I #orangetheworld campaign “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” is a further occasion to raise the awareness of unacceptable behaviours and to promote concrete actions.

For more information about the UN’s Orange the World campaign visit this page.

And read 10 tips we can follow to help end violence against women.