The Danish Institute of Human Rights has played a critical role in the Finance in Common Human Rights Working Group

As part of the FiCS PDBs / CSO collaboration, the Danish Institute of Human Rights has played a critical role in the Finance in Common Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), which was created in 2023. 

The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) is a national human rights institution (NHRI) operating in accordance with the UN Paris Principles. The work of DIHR includes research, analysis, communications, education, documentation, as well as a large number of national and international programmes. The DIHR is a national equality body, and as such has a mandate to promote equal treatment regardless of race, ethnicity, gender and disability.

DIHR also undertakes research on Public Development Banks. For instance, a significant percentage of many Development Finance Institutions´ (DFI) portfolios is now dedicated to the financing of financial intermediaries such as funds and banks including development banks.

📥 In a new report the Danish Institute for Human Rights assesses whether Development Finance Institutions´ policies for the management of environmental and social risks in intermediated finance can effectively prevent and address negative human rights impacts.

The report concludes that DFIs´ policies, historically developed for direct finance operations, need various upgrades to better reflect the complexities and specificities of intermediated finance and meet international standards on responsible business conduct. The report offers concrete suggestions and recommendations on how that can be achieved.