Aug 08,2016 by Coalition
Civil society groups to hold WB accountable for human rights outcomes
On Thursday, the World Bank approved a new Environmental and Social Framework to replace its existing safeguard policies. Members of the Coalition for Human Rights in Development criticized the missed opportunity to adopt robust protections for the human rights of communities impacted by Bank
Aug 04,2016
World Bank approves new safeguards
The World Bank recently approved its new social and environmental safeguard policy. However the new policy has been met with criticism by civil society for its ambiguity, lack of measures to prevent human rights abuses and increased reliance on borrowers’ laws and policies without clear safeg
Aug 04,2016 by members
Inspection Panel’s Pilot Failure
In an article in Bretton Woods Observer, Coalition member Accountability Counsel identifies the serious flaws in a new approach by the World Bank’s independent complaint mechanism, the Inspection Panel’s. The Pilot Approach for Early Solutions was devised to create an opportunity for mor
Aug 01,2016
Cotton Campaign: Hold Uzbekistan Accountable
The Cotton Campaign, a global coalition of human rights and labor organizations, recently submitted a letter to the World Bank urging the institution to incentivize the Uzbekistan government to end its use of forced labor in the agriculture sector. During the cotton harvest season, the governme
Jul 27,2016
UN Expert: it’s time for development banks to start listening
In an opinion piece in Foreign Policy magazine, Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, explains how the goal of sustainable development is under threat from growing restrictions on public participation in development and closing ci
Jul 27,2016
Cautious optimism as NDB wraps up 1st Annual Meeting
Devex reported that the 1st Annual Meeting of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), held from July 20 to 21 in Shanghai, China, conclude on a positive note, leaving development professionals, civil society leaders, and bank officials optimistic about the potential for the NDB to finance green and
Jul 27,2016
Labor Confederation calls out World Bank on Labor Standards
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) called on the World Bank to adhere to ILO standards in its proposed new labor safeguard policy. While the inclusion of a labor safeguard within the World Bank’s social and environmental policy is marked as a positive development
Jul 25,2016 by members
SCOs from the Global South send letter to WB EDs rejecting the new safeguards framework
After a four year review process of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies of the World Bank, the World Bank Board approved the third, and probably final, draft of the new Environmental and Social Framework of the Bank. Last July 19, more than 50 organizations from 20 countries from the Gl
Jul 25,2016
BRICS bank open to expand its membership
The Financial Review reported that in the culmination of BRICS’ National Development Bank (NDB) Annual Meeting held last July 21 – 22 in Shanghai China, the focus centered around expanding the scope of the Bank’s membership. According to NDB Vice – President and Chief R
Jul 22,2016 by members
Groups call for greater openness and transparency at BRICS Bank in its first Annual Meeting
As government officials from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa wrapped up proceedings in Shanghai for the first Annual Meeting of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), development and environmental groups from BRICS countries called for greater transparency and engagement with ci
Jul 22,2016
World Bank backing coal power in Europe
The Guardian recently reported on the World Bank’s enthusiasm in supporting the Kosovo e re (New Kosovo) coal power plant. The $200 billion project is expected to have a capacity of 600 MW, and would be powered by lignite which is the dirtiest form of coal. This is despite the Bank’s pron
Jul 22,2016 by members
African groups call on World Bank to strengthen protections
Thirty-four African human rights and environmental groups sent a letter to the World Bank this week expressing concerns with a weakening of the Bank’s social and environmental policy framework. The statement reiterates the inputs of African civil society groups who throughout the mul
Jul 21,2016 by members
Activism in Macedonia: ‘Intimidation is just the tip of the iceberg’
Environmental activists and civil society groups in Macedonia working to defend their rights in the face of harmful development projects financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and other development banks, are increasingly threatened and harassed. In an art
Jul 12,2016 by members
Uzbekistan: Forced Labor Linked to World Bank Corporate Loan
Coalition member Human Rights Watch reports that three human rights defenders have lodged a formal complaint against the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) regarding forced labor in the Uzbek cotton industry. The complaint demands an investigation of forced labor
Jun 27,2016
World Bank Should Champion Human Rights
The New York Times editorial board today called on the World Bank to “champion human rights” through its new safeguards policy framework presently under consideration by the Bank’s board of directors. The Times cited that despite the fact that the institution’s own re