In Surveillance Risks in Conflict-Affected & High-Risk Areas: A Salient & Material Concern for Investors, Heartland provides a framework for investors and civil society organizations to better understand how surveillance technologies pose salient risks to rights holders in CAHRA and material risks to shareholders in these companies. Part one of the paper outlines relevant materiality
Heartland President Sam Jones recently appeared on Just Investing from United Church Funds, which explores significant topics in the field of responsible investing. During the Season 2 premiere, Mr. Jones offered insights on the role of investors in advancing human rights in an increasingly complex global environment. The episode is available for streaming on Spotify,
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The United Methodist Church’s pension and benefits agency, Wespath Benefits & Investments, is now avoiding investments in the government bonds of approximately 60 countries due to human rights concerns. This decision expands on a resolution from the 2024 General Conference that specifically called for divestment from the governmental debt of Israel, Morocco, and Turkey because
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Heartland is a proud partner of the Private Capital & Tech Accountability Working Group, which was launched in 2022 with the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, BSR, Empower, LLC, Investor Alliance for Human Rights, and Open MIC. In a new ImpactPHL Perspectives post, Anita Dorett, Audrey Mocle, and Kindra Mohr explain how the Working
At the recent Responsible Investment Association Australasia Conference, Heartland’s Sam Jones joined Nathan Robertson-Ball on Finding Nature for a timely conversation about how investors and corporations can meaningfully uphold human rights. They explored the intersection of human rights and today’s global challenges, from conflict zones and mass migration to climate disruption, fragile institutions, and emerging
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As geopolitical conflict and global fragility continue to intensify, investors are increasingly confronted with a complex landscape of human rights and material risks. For decades, Storebrand Asset Management (Storebrand AM) has employed an integrated approach to managing portfolio risks related to human rights, particularly in conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRA). In this effort, Storebrand AM
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Leading U.S. advisory firms Morningstar Sustainalytics and MSCI play a crucial role in guiding investors by assessing the ethical and financial implications of their investments. A key responsibility of these firms is to flag companies involved in human rights violations. However, under pressure from lobbying groups, both firms have reportedly altered their approach and no
Shift in Reporting on Human Rights by Key Investment Advisors Raises Concerns Read More »
In October 2023, Heartland Initiative, PeaceNexus Foundation, and the Investor Alliance for Human Rights launched the Investor Engagement on CAHRA Pilot Project (Pilot Project). This initiative supports a coalition of twenty two lead and support investors in jointly engaging renewable energy and technology companies on emerging policies, practices, and governance strategies related to operations in
On Wednesday, April 30th, at 10am ET / 3pm UK / 4pm CET, Heartland Initiative, the Investor Alliance for Human Rights (IAHR), and PeaceNexus Foundation will host a webinar to launch their new investor resource: Navigating Portfolio Exposure to Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Practical Guidance for Investor Engagement Companies. As global conflicts and human rights
The human and financial costs of geopolitical turbulence are rising sharply. The World Bank estimates that by 2030, two-thirds of the world’s poorest populations will live in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence, while the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reports a 40% increase in conflict between 2023 and 2020. Further, the 2021 Economic Value of Peace report indicates
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