Ethical Funds has been invited to speak to a United Nations educational session in New York on January 10.

Ethical Funds VP of SRI Policy and Research, Robert Walker, will address UN delegates on corporate governance issues. He’ll describe the responsibilities and benefits of corporate boards in promoting shareholder rights and advancing social and environmental issues. Legislative changes needed to advance shareholder advocacy will also be discussed. The educational session will set the agenda for the UN’s upcoming International Conference on Financing for Development.

“We employ screening to avoid investments in companies with unacceptable environmental and social records,” said Margaret Yee, VP with Ethical Funds. “But the company is also taking an increasingly active role in promoting corporate social responsibility through dialogue with companies, voting proxies in support of social content, and even sponsoring shareholder resolutions.”

“As the rules of international banking and investment evolve, there’s a real concern that shareholder rights will be eroded,” Walker added. “Ethical Funds is deeply concerned that new rules and procedures could restrict the capacity to perform social and environmental evaluations, and impede the rights of shareholders to raise human rights issues and other issues of concern to socially responsible investors. It’s paramount that the SRI community have an active voice in discussions on legislative or regulatory changes that could adversely affect shareholder rights.”

The International Conference on Financing for Development represents the first summit-level meeting convened by the United Nations to address key financial and related issues pertaining to global development. The conference will help set the agenda for the Corporate Accountability session of the Earth Summit in South Africa in September.