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The Balancing Act: Handling Social Issues under Commercial Pressure

Grand Ballroom 1
11:00 - 12:30

Financial institutions (FI’s) are increasingly addressing social issues, both in terms of managing their risks and seeking new business opportunities. From a risk perspective, the unanimous endorsement by the UN Human Rights Council of the “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” has created clarity in stating that all businesses, including those in the financial sector, have a “responsibility to respect human rights.” Where that responsibility starts and ends, however, is still largely unclear for the finance sector. From a business opportunity perspective, micro-finance investments and climate change adaptation insurance solutions are just two examples of how FI’s can generate social impact alongside a financial return. This session will facilitate a discussion amongst bankers, insurers and investors on the responsibility to respect human rights in the context of the finance sector and on how FI’s created new business opportunities while following a social agenda.

Moderator

  • Ms. Margaret Wachenfeld, Director of Research and Legal Affairs at Institute for Human Rights and Business

Speakers

  • Ms. Mariko Kawaguchi, General Manager, CSR Department at Daiwa Securities Group – investor perspective; focus on impact investment
  • Ms. Mercedes Sotoca, Head Environmental and Social Risk Management at ING
  • Ms. Valerie Smith, Director, Corporate Sustainability, Citi Group
  • Mr. Peter Noble, Chief Corporate Governance Officer, TAL