Sustainalytics and UNICEF publish investor guidance on integrating child rights into investment decision making
NEW YORK, 9 September 2019 – New guidance on how investors can assess the impact of their investments on child rights – and better understand how child rights can be better integrated into their investment analysis and decision making – has been published today by Sustainalytics and UNICEF.
Investor Guidance on Integrating Children’s Right into Investment Decision Making – a joint collaboration between global leader in ESG research, ratings and analytics Sustainalytics and the United Nations Children’s Fund – also notes that approaching investment decisions with a child rights lens is beneficial for businesses too.
“Investors have a critical role to play in protecting child rights,” said Director of Engagement Services at Sustainalytics Hanna Roberts. “With this guidance, investors have a valuable tool to ensure child rights considerations are incorporated into their approach to responsible investment and active ownership.”
The new guidance ties in with the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. The Convention commits member states to uphold children’s rights – including the rights to survival and development, freedom and protection, and identity and privacy. Yet, while children account for nearly one-third of the world’s population, investors’ human rights policies seldom reflect the special considerations businesses need to make to uphold children’s rights.
The guidance highlights the benefits of incorporating child rights into investment decisions including the opening of new potential markets, better wellbeing among the workforce, and more sustainable economies and societies.
“Almost every aspect of business – from supply chains to operations to marketing practices – impacts child rights. We hope this guidance serves as a reminder that the rights of children must be upheld in all investment decisions, and that decisions made with a child rights’ lens are better for the businesses bottom line,” said UNICEF Director, Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division Gary Stahl.
An open consultation was held with the Principles for Responsible Investment signatories, engaging European and North American asset owners and asset managers.
“I am pleased to contribute to such a valuable tool which can help to bring greater attention to children’s rights during the investment decision-making process,” said Pædagogernes Pension Head of ESG Rasmus Juhl Pedersen. “This hands-on toolkit enables investors to take several practical actions to integrate children’s rights into their policies, decision-making and engagement practices.”
In addition to the practical toolkit, the guidance includes questions that can be used as part of an active dialogue with companies to find out how they are addressing child rights.
ABOUT SUSTAINALYTICS
Sustainalytics is a leading independent ESG and corporate governance research, ratings and analytics firm that supports investors around the world with the development and implementation of responsible investment strategies. For over 25 years, the firm has been at the forefront of developing high-quality, innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of global investors. Today, Sustainalytics works with hundreds of the world’s leading asset managers and pension funds who incorporate ESG and corporate governance information and assessments into their investment processes. With 16 offices globally, Sustainalytics has more than 500 staff members, including over 200 analysts with varied multidisciplinary expertise across more than 40 industry groups. For more information, visit www.sustainalytics.com
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org
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