New ETF Blends High Dividends With Strict Human Rights Screening

LONDON, UK – May 13, 2026 – A new and distinct exchange-traded fund launched today, aiming to solve a persistent dilemma for ethically-minded investors: how to generate high-dividend income without channeling capital to companies complicit in severe human rights abuses. The JURY Global High Dividend UCITS ETF (ticker: JURY), launched on several European exchanges, combines a focus on income with a screening process grounded in international law.

The ETF is the result of a partnership between The Justice Company, an independent initiative focused on applying legal standards to investing, and HANetf, a leading European white-label ETF platform. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Xetra, and Borsa Italiana, JURY is designed to offer a core portfolio holding that provides diversified global equity exposure while adhering to a strict ethical framework.

Beyond ESG: A New Standard for Ethical Investing

In a crowded market of funds labeled 'ESG' (Environmental, Social, and Governance), JURY sets itself apart by moving beyond broad metrics and adopting a hardline stance based on established international humanitarian law. The fund’s screening process, developed by independent research firm Ethical Screening, is not based on subjective ratings but on defined legal boundaries.

JURY explicitly excludes companies found to be materially involved in genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, apartheid, and serious occupation-related human rights abuses. The framework draws its authority from internationally recognized legal standards, including the Geneva Conventions, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and OECD guidelines. This rules-based approach is intended to remove ambiguity and provide investors with transparent, non-negotiable red lines.

“Investors can now achieve broad, diversified exposure without allocating capital to companies implicated in grave human-rights violations as identified by the screening methodology,” commented Mike Head, Senior Adviser at The Justice Company. “What we could not find in the market was a professional, rules-based investment platform that treats certain violations as genuinely non-negotiable while still meeting institutional standards of diversification, transparency and performance. The ETF was created to close that gap.”

This legalistic foundation distinguishes JURY from many ESG funds, which may still hold companies involved in controversial activities due to their high scores on other metrics. By focusing on specific, severe violations, The Justice Company aims to offer a more definitive form of ethical investing.

Targeting Income Without Compromise

The fund’s investment strategy is centered on providing a high dividend yield, targeting large- and mid-cap equities in developed markets. This focus is designed to appeal to income-seeking investors who may have previously felt they had to choose between their financial goals and their ethical principles. The strategy aims to deliver stronger income returns than the broader market while maintaining liquidity and transparency.

However, potential investors should be aware of the inherent risks. The fund's prospectus notes that its exposure to mid-capitalisation companies may make it more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events compared to funds focused solely on larger, more established companies. Furthermore, like any global fund, it is subject to political developments, regulatory changes, and currency fluctuations that can impact returns. The fund's documentation makes it clear that investors’ capital is at risk.

A Competitive Field for Conscious Capital

The launch of JURY enters a dynamic and evolving landscape for socially conscious investing. While its approach is novel, it joins a growing number of products catering to investors who want their portfolios to reflect their values. For instance, the Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF (JSTC) in the US has gained traction by focusing on racial, gender, and economic justice, using community-sourced data to inform its investment criteria.

Where JURY differs is in its specificity and its direct link to international law. While a fund like JSTC takes a broad approach to social justice issues, JURY narrows its focus to the most severe human rights violations, creating a clear, legally-defined exclusionary mandate. Furthermore, its explicit high-dividend strategy carves out a specific niche, directly competing for the capital of income investors rather than generalist global equity investors. The emergence of such specialized funds indicates a maturation of the ethical investing market, moving from broad-stroke ESG approaches to more targeted, thematic, and methodologically distinct strategies.

Investing with a Direct Social Impact

Perhaps the most unique feature of the JURY ETF is its commitment to directly fund social good. The Justice Company has pledged to dedicate 10% of the ETF's 0.60% Total Expense Ratio (TER) to humanitarian and educational initiatives. This capital will be channeled through a humanitarian foundation established to support communities affected by conflict, displacement, and systemic oppression.

Among the foundation's stated goals is the creation of humanitarian scholarships to help students whose education has been disrupted by conflict and human-rights abuses. This structure creates a direct link between the growth of the ETF and the funding of tangible aid, allowing investors to participate in a form of philanthropic giving through their investment fees.

“We are delighted to be partnering with The Justice Company to launch JURY Global High Dividend UCITS ETF,” said Hector McNeil, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of HANetf. “The ETF is a unique offering, allowing investors to gain exposure to high dividend equities without compromising on principles.”

Classified as an Article 8 fund under Europe’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), the ETF formally promotes social characteristics. As investors and regulators alike demand greater clarity and impact from ethical funds, JURY’s dual-pronged approach of strict legal screening and direct financial contribution offers a compelling new model for the industry.