In April of 2018, the ELCA Church Council approved a Human Rights social criteria investment screen. Following this, at its August board meeting, Portico’s Board of Trustees approved the ELCA Human Rights screen for future use in its Social Purpose investment portfolios. Currently Portico is examining possibilities for implementing the screen taking into account both the need to ensure implementation is aligned with the ELCA screen, but also the need to consider the impact of all eight ELCA screens on the risk and return objectives of the social purpose portfolios. Consistent with the language of the screen, Portico’s approach will focus on disputed or occupied territories, including among others, those territories in the Israel/Palestine region. Portico hopes to implement human rights screening in the first half of 2019 and will continue to work closely with the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility review team as it considers options for implementing the new screen. Additional updates and details on human rights screening at Portico will be provided on Portico’s website during the first half of 2019.  If you have any questions about the implementation of the human rights social criteria investment screen you may email peacenotwalls@elca.org.

Share