The insurance sector can impact human rights in three ways: as an employer, as an investor, and as an insurer. The latter is all the more important today in the context of the health crisis, when expectations of various stakeholders concerning insurers are high.
It is in this context that Ksapa accompanied an insurer committed to ensuring its human rights strategy is effective with respect to ever-changing expectations (standards, regulatory requirements, societal expectations).
the challenge
The Group, which is already well organised on climate issues, wishes to strengthen its social approach, starting with human and social rights. This consideration was also part of the Group’s larger goal of updating its existing human rights strategy.
Our client is committed to regularly updating its human rights risk assessment. The previous iteration was several years ago and already included risk mapping and mitigation measures.
OUR APPROACH
The work was based around four main activities:
- Human rights risk management assessment;
- A gap analysis of the existing human rights approach against current and future standards and regulations;
- The definition of a roadmap for the coming years to strengthen the Group’s commitment and actions on these issues;
- Internal awareness of the approach and future developments within the Group’s various activities.
Throughout this exercise, Ksapa has taken into account the broad scope of the Group’s operations and the perspective of the rightsholders. These risks were reviewed taking into account fundamental international treaties, conventions, and documents on human rights, and best international practices. Ksapa’s comprehensive monitoring work has also made it possible to take into account human rights controversies relevant to the sector – which must be considered in light of future socio-climatic risks.
This project was completed over a period of 6 months, and was organised between Ksapa’s human rights team and the Group’s counterpart.
RESULTS & NEXT STEPS
The deliverables provided the Group with an overall understanding of their approach, and of any areas that could be improved, taking into account the new definition of its human rights strategy. As the exercise was carried out bearing in mind the various operations and stakeholders, the results allow the Group to have a clear vision and to easily establish an action plan according to each activity and for the different parameters.
The continuous evaluation and updating of this strategy is a good practice, allowing companies to regularly reflect on their commitments with an organised action plan enabling them to quickly respond and implement necessary changes. Of course, this is not possible without effective, organised and flexible governance.
Read AXA’s 2022 HRIA report: click here.
