Shareholder proposals about human rights are a mainstay of proxy season and a heterogeneous bunch, reflecting key controversies of the day. The largest group seeks stronger policies and disclosure about how companies attend to risks related to human rights in their operations. Concerns about specific conflicts have waned from a high point in 2017, but last year’s focus on immigrants and the penal system continues, alongside proposals about trafficking and modern slavery, surveillance and privacy issues connected to social media and internet platforms, weapons and the penal system.

Just eight of the 40 proposals filed on human rights in 2020 are resubmissions. Most resolutions (30) are now pending, eight have been withdrawn and two have been omitted. The SEC has yet to respond to nine no-action challenges.