UNGP’s 10th anniversary
17 June 2021

Stock exchange guidance on human rights disclosure
UN SSE initiative published a policy brief on Stock exchange guidance on human rights disclosure. This report provides an analysis of human rights references in ESG disclosure guidance documents produced by stock exchanges. Most of the stock exchanges (48 out of 56) mentioned human rights in their ESG disclosure guidance. Indirect references to human rights issues (e.g. references to labour practices, diversity or social responsibility) are also widely referenced. When looking at references to direct, or specific, human rights instruments though less than half of the stock exchanges mention these. The Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is referenced less than a quarter of the time (16 out of 55). The findings indicate that stock exchange guidance to issuers on human rights disclosure is becoming a mainstream market practice, though the focus is more on the indirect elements that make up human rights issues more generally. There are less disclosure recommendations focused on direct references to human rights policies or instruments.About the SSE
The SSE initiative is a UN Partnership Programme organised by UNCTAD, the UN Global Compact, UNEP FI and the PRI. The SSE’s mission is to provide a global platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, companies (issuers), regulators, policymakers and relevant international organizations, can enhance performance on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues and encourage sustainable investment, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SSE seeks to achieve this mission through an integrated programme of conducting evidence-based policy analysis, facilitating a network and forum for multi-stakeholder consensus-building, and providing technical assistance and advisory services.