The Financial Times highlights our tech work
A recent Financial Times article cites the work of the Investor Alliance and our members (Boston Common, Robeco, and Investor Advocates for Social Justice) to highlight how digital human rights are becoming the latest frontier in the debate around fund managers’ ethical investments efforts.
Launch of the Investor Toolkit Project
The Investor Alliance formally launched its Investor Toolkit Project in September. The aim of the project is to provide practical tools, step-by-step guidance, and illustrative case studies to help investors put their own responsibility to respect human rights into practice, in alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business in Human Rights and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct. Find the project’s concept note, including a detailed timeline for deliverables, here.
Response to Business Roundtable statement
Following the Business Roundtable’s updated statement on the purpose of a corporation in August, the Investor Alliance released a response to stress that even a shareholder primacy approach requires stakeholder primacy based on the investor responsibility to respect human rights.
Equator Principles (EP4) submission
The Investor Alliance led an investor submission to the recent review of an updated draft of the Equator Principles (EP4), a social and environmental risk framework for project finance by private sector banks. The submission garnered support from investors with collective assets worth US$1.2 trillion and focused on the need for better alignment with the UN Guiding Principles and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance. The Investor Alliance presented the submission’s recommendations during several stakeholder consultations, and members conducted direct outreach to signatory banks in the lead-up to the vote on the final draft of EP4, just released this week and now available here. For more background on the human rights aspects of EP4, see our Webinar on Equator Principles 4: A Human Rights Perspective.
B-Tech Project feedback
Drawing from our ongoing work in the ICT sector, the Investor Alliance recently submitted feedback on the B-Tech Project of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and its draft advice for tech companies in implementing the UN Guiding Principles.
Swedish pension fund AP2 releases human rights report using UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework
In a first for a large institutional investor, Swedish pension fund AP2 published a dedicated human rights report in line with the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework. The report serves as a leading example of investor disclosure regarding institutional human rights policies, practices, and performance.
Implications for private equity liability for human rights impacts
The UK Supreme Court’s decision regarding Vedanta, a UK parent company linked to environmental and human rights impacts in Zambia through a subsidiary, has implications for private equity liability for the impacts of privately funded companies, as this post by Hogan Lovells explains.
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Investor briefing on strategic lawsuits against public participation
The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) has published a briefing for investors on how to take action in response to strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) by portfolio companies against human rights defenders.
Investor briefings on forced labor risks in construction and forestry
KnowTheChain has released two briefings for investors on industry connections to systems of forced labor: one on the construction industry and another on the forestry sector. Both briefings detail how investors can promote respect for labor rights via their corporate engagements.
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SRI in the Rockies
Taking place November 13-15, this year’s SRI in the Rockies conference focused on facilitating investing practices that combat today's most salient economic, social, and governmental issues. The Investor Alliance's Associate Director Sara Blackwell spoke on the Wednesday, November 13 panel, "Power to the Shareholder: What Worked, What's Trending, and What's Next in Advocacy."
Webinar: Corporate Human Rights Benchmark 2019
The Investor Alliance hosted a webinar with the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) on Monday, November 18 at 10am-11am ET to discuss the CHRB's progress in researching and ranking corporations' human rights due diligence processes. Speakers included Dan Neale, CHRB Programme Director, and Bennett Freeman, CHRB co-founder and Senior Advisor. A recording of the webinar is available here.
Webinar: BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark
This Thursday, November 21 at 10am-11am ET, the Investor Alliance will host a webinar on BankTrack's 2019 Human Rights Benchmark. The webinar will feature BankTrack's Ryan Brightwell, with reflections from Lauren Compere, Managing Director and Director of Shareholder Advocacy at Boston Common Asset Management. Alliance members can register for the webinar here.
Upcoming session at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights
During the UN Annual Forum in Geneva on November 25-27, the Investor Alliance will host the session, “A 'Smart Mix’ for Responsible Investment: The Role of Government in Ensuring Investor Respect for Human Rights" on Monday, November 25 from 4:40pm-6:00pm (Geneva time). Co-hosted by UNPRI and Global Witness, the event will explore how governments can and should promote responsible investment centered on respect for human rights via a mix of mandatory and voluntary measures.
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SIGN ON: The Investor Case for Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence
The Investor Alliance statement, "The Investor Case for Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence" calls on all governing bodies to institute mandatory human rights due diligence (mHRDD) requirements for companies headquartered or operating in their respective jurisdictions. The statement has already garnered support from nearly 70 institutions and will be sent to government contacts with the support of civil society allies. Sign on by completing this form by this Wednesday (Nov. 20).
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