Calvert's long-standing human rights and Indigenous Peoples' rights criteria explicitly prohibit investing in companies that have serious and persistent human rights problems, directly support governments that systematically deny human rights, or have a pattern and practice of violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Therefore, Calvert funds will not invest in companies that materially contribute to sustaining the Sudanese regime and the abuses in Darfur, such as natural resource extraction companies identified by the Sudan targeted divestment movement.
Calvert's funds are of course closely guided by our human rights and Indigenous Peoples' rights criteria.
Calvert's human rights criterion states:
The Funds seek to invest in companies that are responsible corporate citizens abroad, as well as at home, by developing and observing appropriate human rights standards. The Funds seek to avoid investing in companies that have serious and persistent human rights problems or directly support governments that systematically deny human rights.
Calvert's Indigenous Peoples' rights criterion states:
The Funds seek to invest in companies that respect Indigenous Peoples' rights and their territories, cultures, environment and livelihood. We avoid companies that have a pattern and practice of violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Due to the consistent and rigorous application of our human rights and Indigenous Peoples' rights criteria, Calvert currently has no investments in companies that are materially involved in the conflict in Sudan or that are otherwise subject to targeted divestment as determined by the Sudan Divestment Task Force.
If Calvert should uncover any fund holdings that warrant further scrutiny due to possible involvement in Sudan, we are prepared to take appropriate action through engagement or divestment.
Prepared by Baljit Wadhwa.
