Friends Fiduciary supports the Investor Statement on Human Rights and Business Activities in Myanmar

Since the February 2021 coup d’etat by the Myanmar military against the country’s democratically elected government, investors have been increasingly concerned with the military’s repressive response to pro-democracy protestors and ethnic cleansing campaign against the minority Rohingya community. Companies with continued direct business activities or relationships in Myanmar risk contributing to violations of human rights exposing those companies to material, financial, and reputational risks. In response to these human rights impacts in Myanmar, investors are encouraging companies to “take the necessary steps to cease, prevent, or mitigate adverse human rights impacts which they cause, contribute, or are directly linked to through their business relationships.” More specifically, investors are asking companies to map their business activities across their value chain in Myanmar, assess and address any identified or potential human rights impacts, and publicly report on results of such due diligence.