Following the Myanmar coup in February 2021, 86 investors representing more than $4 trillion in assets endorsed an investor statement on business and human rights in Myanmar. They also launched a coordinated engagement with companies where evidence suggested their activities supported the military junta. Two years later, the responses from these companies have been mixed.

Heartland co-organized the session “Is the Arms Industry Exempt from Human Rights Due Diligence?” at the annual UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva. Given the increasing exemptions of the arms industry from mandatory human rights due diligence (HRDD), Susi Snyder (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Tulia Machado-Helland (Storebrand), James Ninrew Dong

On December 11th, Heartland’s Sam Jones will participate in the “Engagement in Complex Contexts: Exchange on Lessons Learned” session at next week’s Building Bridges event in Geneva.  Amid rising global conflicts, responsible business practices are imperative for companies and investors to navigate increasingly complex geopolitical landscapes. Growing stakeholder demands for corporate responsiveness on social issues

On October 16th, Heartland’s Sam Jones will speak at the annual Engaging Business Forum at The Coca-Cola Company headquarters in Atlanta. This Forum convenes leaders from business, civil society, trade unions, and government to address today’s most pressing human rights challenges. If you’re attending, don’t miss the panel discussion titled “What’s Heightened about hHRDD?” Heightened

On September 19, Heartland board member, friend, and mentor, Patricia (Pat) Zerega received the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility’s 2024 Legacy Award. For more than 45 years, Pat has dedicated her life and career to serving and speaking out for the “least of these my brothers and sisters.” Her care for the dignity of each

Numerous recent reports have revealed the Russian army’s reliance on critical Western components to power its war on Ukraine. Moscow’s forces depend on Western-made inputs for the construction and maintenance of their drones, cruise missiles, communications systems, and electronic warfare complexes. Many of these components originate in countries supporting Ukraine militarily, including the United States,

On April 27, 2022, Sam Jones from Heartland participated in the “Navigating the Surveillance Technology Ecosystem” panel at the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) 2022 AI and Human Rights Forum. The panel explored the increasing human rights and material risks associated with both targeted and mass surveillance, as well as the

On March 29, 2022, Heartland’s Sam Jones participated in a panel discussion with the PRI to examine the social and human rights implications of conflict. The panel addressed the challenges responsible investors face when considering social issues in conflict-affected areas, as well as how they can collaborate with stakeholders, civil society, and peers to promote

Heartland and 93 investors with more than $6 trillion in assets under management and advisement reaffirmed via a public statement their support for mandated human rights and environmental due diligence in the EU. Whether the upcoming EU directive on corporate due diligence will make an actual difference on the ground will depend on the details of this legislation. For