Human rights

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- Thematic focuses
- Related resources

The role of investors in ensuring that human rights are respected is increasingly in the spotlight.

Since the UN Human Rights Council developed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in 2011, considering human rights in investment activities has become increasingly important to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing. Leading investors also recognise that meeting international standards leads to better financial risk management.

Why and how investors should act on human rights

Just as for all businesses, institutional investors have a responsibility to respect human rights.

What data do investors need to manage human rights risks?

With the right data, investors can incentivise companies to manage risks around human rights

Human rights benchmarks for investors: an overview

This resource provides a general overview of human rights benchmarks available to investors.

Investor human rights policy commitments: an overview

Examples of our signatories’ human rights policy commitments that are consistent with the UNGPs

Human rights - case studies

Examples of leading practices around investors challenges, opportunities and responsibilities in relation to human rights.

Advance

A new collaborative initiative for investors to address human rights and social issues through their stewardship activities

Thematic focuses

Diversity, equity & inclusion: Key action areas for investors

Investors need to expand their focus beyond gender and diversity and address issues such as inclusion, equity and other characteristics to truly benefit from DEI

How investors can advance decent work

This paper will define the concept of decent work, emphasising a human-centric approach towards workers and their rights, in line with various global standards and frameworks.

Incorporating decent work into capital allocation

This article summarises the key points made at a workshop regarding how signatories incorporate decent work and safeguard expectations into their capital allocation process.

Just transition

A ‘just transition’ for workers and communities as the world’s economy responds to climate change was included as part of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Modern Slavery and Labour Rights

How investors can help to accelerate action to end modern slavery and human trafficking.

Why and how investors can respond to income inequality

The gap in income and wealth between the very affluent and the rest of society has become one of the most noteworthy socio-economic issues of our time.

Human rights in specific asset classes

Human rights in private markets: identifying and assessing negative human rights outcomes

Key points from a workshop held on 30 June 2022 where private markets industry participants discussed how to identify and assess negative human rights outcomes

Human rights in sovereign debt: the role of investors

Investors in sovereign debt have less leverage on human rights issues than investors in equities or corporates. But they are not powerless. In this report, we outline three steps sovereign investors can take when considering human rights issues in their investment decisions and we propose a range of responses.