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UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings will stress the critical importance of human rights to be more fully reflected in the responsible investment policy of the giant Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global,  when he addresses Norwegian Parliamentarians on Thursday.

Jennings is a speaker on the seminar, “Responsible investing – integrating respect for human rights in the financial sector” being held at the Norwegian Parliament in Oslo.  The cross party forum is an opportunity to highlight the need for human rights to be fully included in the investment strategy of the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global.

Jennings said prior to the meeting, “ The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global invests in 9000 companies and should be insisting on the  highest standards of respect for human rights in those companies.  This is consistent with existing global standards. The time has come for the fund to develop a coherent human rights’ pillar to its responsible investment strategy and the Norwegian parliament has this opportunity to push the debate along.”

“This is consistent with the healthy and sustainable development of the companies rather than the quick buck mentality which has done so much harm to the global economy,” Jennings added.

The cross party seminar, which is being hosted by Torstein Tvedt Solberg, a Norwegian Labour MP and member of The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, is intended to provide content for a forthcoming paper on human rights and investment.