Investors must fulfil their responsibility to respect human rights: UN experts

UN experts* today presented a report urging investors to integrate human rights considerations into their environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability approaches, to align them with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

“Investors must place risks for people and the planet at the centre of their decision-making,” said Robert McCorquodale, Chairperson of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights.

“Investors have the responsibility to conduct ongoing human rights due diligence, prioritise meaningful stakeholder engagement, and promote access to remedy in alignment with the Guiding Principles,” McCorquodale said.

The Working Group’s report to the 56^th Human Rights Council session stressed that investors need more decision-useful information concerning human rights. “Data providers, proxy voting agencies, and other data actors must provide clear and transparent methodologies on human rights performance.”

To improve the availability and quality of human rights data, the Working Group also highlighted the importance of meaningful consultation with potentially affected groups. “Investors cannot ignore the voices of those impacted by the investments they make,” the experts said.

“States will play a key role by drafting legislation and regulations to facilitate alignment of ESG and sustainability approaches of investors with the Guiding Principles,” McCorquodale said.

The Working Group’s report contains recommendations for States, businesses, and other stakeholders as to how to incorporate the Guiding Principles into ESG and sustainability approaches.