Putting Values into Practice: UWOFA Calls for Human Rights-Aligned Investment at Western

The University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) supports the growing call for ethical and transparent investment practices at Western University. In line with our commitment to institutional accountability, UWOFA formally calls for the incorporation of human rights considerations into Western’s responsible investment policy, as defined in MAPP Policy 2.26. We advocate that the university prioritize developing a plan to divest from companies engaged in or complicit in human rights abuses. 

Western University, a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, has made strides in climate-focused investing. However, responsible investment must go beyond broad ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) integration to explicitly include human rights due diligence, consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Investment Committee has publicly stated it is reviewing its strategy to incorporate human rights considerations, responding to community input. 

Around the world, institutional investors such as universities, pension funds, and endowment funds are responding to calls for greater accountability by divesting from companies complicit in human rights violations. By developing a transparent framework for such divestment, Western has the opportunity to lead by example, in step with a growing international consensus that financial stewardship must include social responsibility. UWOFA’s position reflects a shared concern across the Western community about the interconnection between university investments and global human rights. UWOFA’s stance aligns with those of the University Students’ Council (USC) and the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS), both of which have passed motions urging the University to take further action.

There is clear precedent for ethical investment action at Western. In 1986, the university divested from companies operating in apartheid-era South Africa, and in recent years it has taken steps to address climate-related concerns in its investment practices. However, the current Responsible Investing Framework falls short in addressing human rights. In contrast, several Canadian universities—including Ontario Tech and the University of Windsor—have adopted policies to divest from companies implicated in human rights violations. 

UWOFA supports a responsible investment approach that explicitly upholds human rights and international law. As a trade union representing academic staff, UWOFA believes that responsible investment is a vital component of ethical university governance because it ensures that financial decisions align with the values set by the academic community. Where and how a university invests reflects its priorities and shapes its credibility as a socially responsible institution. As a publicly funded research university, Western’s alignment of investment practices with ESG values is not only a matter of fiscal responsibility, but of public trust. It is integral to the university’s academic mission: Western’s teaching and research engage deeply with global challenges such as human rights, sustainability, equity, and justice. To fulfill the promise of its strategic plan – Greater Impact, People, Community and Culture, and Place in the World – Western must ensure that its investment practices genuinely embody and advance these commitments, with human rights at the core.