KEY TAKEAWAYS

• There are clear moral, reputational, financial and regulatory imperatives for investors to address the global human rights crisis of modern slavery.
• Recent investor initiatives including investor coalitions; increasing support for shareholder proposals on social issues; and active engagement with portfolio companies on human rights, have highlighted the significant leverage investors have in influencing companies to meet their responsibilities under international norms and guidelines.
• ISS Governance research indicates a quadrupling of U.S. shareholder proposals on the issue of modern slavery over the last five years.
• ISS ESG has a range of tools available to support investors to identify, mitigate and act on modern slavery risks in their portfolios.