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Article

15 Mar 2017

Author:
Cindy Berman, ETI (UK)

Commentary: Corporate Human Rights Benchmark is ambitious & welcome, says Ethical Trading Initiative

“Ambitious and welcome: the inaugural Corporate Human Rights Benchmark”, 14 Mar 2017

[T]he CHRB is a collaborative effort involving leading investment firms and initiatives and human rights organisations.  Firms such as Aviva are keen to get investors thinking far more about the human rights impacts of their investments, and in rewarding companies that are more transparent about their policies and practices.  They recognise that the success of investments are not to be judged on today’s market share index, but on the moral as well as commercial impacts of corporate operations in the long term…it has the potential to be catalytic if it drives change through greater transparency.  But it must get company buy-in, and needs to build on the collaboration it has established with key stakeholders…Only six companies scored more than 50%...But…Being rewarded for what they publish does not necessarily equate to leadership on what companies do…Some…may not be as good at communicating ethical success…Driving a race to the top is urgent but it also requires a long-term approach and collaboration.  Listening to the speakers at the launch, four issues struck me as critical and requiring far more attention:…Governance…Commercial and price pressures…Impunity…[and]…Quality and credibility of information...

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