Social Bonds for Sustainable Development: a Human Rights Perspective on Impact Investing

This article analyses the human rights implications of impact investing, focusing specifically on social bonds. It proposes a framework for evaluating human rights factors in impact investing and applies it to the social bond market, finding current standards inadequate. The paper suggests reforms to enhance investor assessment, external assurance, and impact-maximizing leverage, advocating for stronger integration of human rights considerations within sustainable finance and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.