Perhaps the most urgent humanitarian crisis in the world is taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. The genocidal violence by government-backed militias has included the mass murder of women and children, the destruction of villages, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Sudanese. More information on the Darfur crisis — and on why investors’ response is so important can be found here.

 

We believe that Domini’s Global Investment Standards express our shareholders’ fundamental commitment to universal human dignity. In considering companies for investment by the Domini Funds, we look closely at human rights practices in countries where those companies are active, and at companies’ interactions with governments that are responsible for human rights abuses. (For more information, please see “Acknowledgement of Human Rights” under our Global Community standards.)

 

The Darfur crisis obliges investors to look closely at not just whether, but also how a company is pursuing its business activities in Sudan. In our evaluation, Domini considers the nature and extent of a company’s activities, whether it operates primarily inside or outside government stronghold areas, whether the company has supported the efforts of humanitarian organizations working to address human rights abuses in Sudan, and whether the company has been transparent about its operations and their impacts.

 

Based on this evaluation, we seek to avoid investing in companies that do business in Sudan in these cases:

 

1. The company’s activities directly benefit the government of Sudan. This includes companies that pay oil and mining royalties to the Sudanese government, as well as those that build roads, develop infrastructure in government strongholds, or provide assistance to government agencies.

 

2. The company offers substantial indirect benefits to the government of Sudan, or, in our view, is otherwise complicit in human rights abuses in Sudan. This includes companies that have substantial operations or customers in government stronghold areas of Sudan and therefore help to provide a stable economic environment that supports the government in its oppressive policies.

 

We may also use our leverage as shareholders to influence corporate behavior in this area, but will generally not invest in a company that violates the standards outlined above for the sole purpose of engaging in shareholder activism.

 

Domini has maintained close contact with the Sudan Divestment Task Force and other investors and organizations working against the Darfur genocide. Domini’s investment decisions are always grounded in our Global Investment Standards and based upon our own proprietary research. In addition, we utilize the Task Force’s company-specific research as a resource in our work. We also share information about corporate activities in Sudan that we have acquired through our independent research with the Task Force and other interested organizations.

 

To find out more about the situation in Darfur and what you can do to help, visit the Sudan Divestment Task Force, the Genocide Intervention Network, and Save Darfur.

 

Domini may change its investment standards at any time, and will publish any material changes to this policy on our website. This page was last updated in February 2007.

 

 

You should consider the Domini Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. View or order  a copy of the Funds' current prospectus for more complete information on these and other topics. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.

 

DSIL Investment Services LLC, Distributor. 02/07