In 2020 we find ourselves facing a culmination of global crises: the climate emergency, growing economic inequality and the coronavirus pandemic. As we work to build back better, a growing chorus of voices is now calling not simply for a regeneration of the status quo, but for a new more people-centric economic and societal model, fit for the 21st century.
Key to this is respect for human rights, the promotion and protection of which is already enshrined in international law.
Just as for all businesses, institutional investors have a responsibility to respect human rights. Yet, despite this expectation being formalised by the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nearly ten years ago, there is still a significant implementation gap.