“Marks & Spencer tops human rights benchmark”, 13 Mar 2017

UK retailer Marks & Spencer has topped a new benchmark ranking that aims to incentivise companies in a race to the top for the moral and commercial advantages of a strong human rights record…Mark Wilson, group CEO of Aviva says...“For the first time we have a public measure of companies’ human rights performance which will focus attention in the boardroom on their performance versus other companies and allow investors to ask the right questions.  More transparency and a desire to improve in the ranking will spark a race to the top in corporate human rights.”  Vicky Dodman, chief executive of the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark says...“[It] is a baseline...we want to see companies move up as they respond to public scrutiny and engagement from investors…inaction runs a high reputational risk and low scoring companies should act decisively, learn from leading practices, and rapidly improve.” [Also refers to Adidas, Hennes & Mauritz, Gap Inc., Nike, VF Corp, Hanesbrands, Target, Nordstrom, Coach, Next, Prada, Hermes, Under Armour, Fast Retailing, Walmart, Kohl's and Macy's].