Mar 09,2017
UN Human Rights Chief Denounces Human Rights Abuses Associated with Large Infrastructure Projects
In an op-ed published by the Miami Herald, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein calls attention to threats faced by human rights defenders who seek to ensure that infrastructure projects are conducted in a manner consistent with human rights obligations
Mar 08,2017
Honduran farmers file lawsuit against the International Finance Corporation
A group of farmers from Honduras’s Bajo Aguan region have filed suit against the International Finance Corporation, the private finance body of the World Bank. According to the plaintiffs, more than 100 people have been murdered in the Bajo Aguan region since 2009 as a result of conflict between th
Mar 08,2017 by Coalition
Impact Report 2016
Read the full report: English | Spanish | French Partnering with Communities to Defend Human Rights In 2016 the Coalition engaged in partnerships with communities around the world to connect community struggles with strategic resources and campaign support and to bring community expertis
Mar 03,2017 by members
Groups Call on Banks to Take Action to End Intimidation of Indigenous Peoples Affected by Geothermal Projects
A global group of non-governmental organizations today called on the World Bank, European Investment Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, German Development Bank- KFW, French Agency for Development, and other international financial institutions involved with the Olkaria I, IV,
Feb 27,2017 by Coalition
Demystifying Development Banks – Tools for Environmental and Human Rights Defenders
Human rights and environmental defenders around the world are fighting against infrastructure, energy and agriculture developments that fail to consult communities or respect their rights. One critical tool in this fight is knowing how to leverage the public banks which finance these develop
Feb 14,2017 by Coalition
Organizations call on the World Bank to Protect Indigenous Rights
This week 32 organizations called on the World Bank Board of Directors to urge them to ensure that the Bank takes all measures necessary to remedy harm caused to four Maasai villages displaced to make way for the Olkaria IV geothermal project in Kenya. The Kenya Electricity Expansion Project (KEEP)
Feb 08,2017
US Appeals Court Hears Arguments on World Bank Immunity
The Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments on Monday in Budha Ismail Jam v. International Finance Corporation, on whether the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) should have “absolute immunity” from lawsuits in the United States. Plai
Feb 02,2017
Global Witness Report Chronicles Dangers for Human Rights Defenders in Honduras
A new report released by Global Witness identifies Honduras as “the deadliest country in the world for environmental activism.” The report calls attention to international financial institution funding for projects that result in human rights violations for local communities a
Jan 24,2017
Frontline Defenders Report Highlights Risk to Human Rights Defenders in 2016
According to a report released this month by Frontline Defenders, more than 1000 human rights defenders were killed, harassed, detained, or subjected to smear campaigns and other violations in 2016. As Frontline Defenders highlights, many of these violations, including notably the murder in H
Jan 24,2017 by members
Concerns Raised Over the Tanahu Hydropower Project’s Impact on Local Communities
Communities affected by the Tanahu Hydropower Project, which includes damming the Seti river in Nepal, recently submitted a 26-point memorandum to Nepal’s Energy Minister, stressing concerns regarding the project’s impacts on their traditional lands and livelihoods and failure to co
Jan 23,2017
Groups call for EBRD to reject an oil and gas project in Turkmenistan
Crude Accountability and civil society groups around the world are calling on the Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to reject financing for an oil and gas project in Turkmenistan. The $30 million loan to Circle Maritime Invest (CMI) for the CMI Offshore proj
Jan 19,2017 by members
River Defender Activist Murdered in Guatemala
Another anti-dam activist has been murdered in Latin America. On Tuesday, January 17, protestors led a peaceful demonstration against a hydroelectric plant in Guatemala. But the event ended in death after paramilitaries shot and killed 72-year-old activist Sebastian Alonso. The march had ori
Jan 18,2017 by members
New Oxfam Report: “An Economy for the 99%”
A new report by Coalition member Oxfam shows that the distribution of global wealth is far more unequal than previously thought. Eight men control the same amount of money as the 3.6 billion people who make up the poorest half of the world’s population. Inequality is on the rise and history shows tha
Dec 08,2016 by Coalition
Time for Development Financiers to #Standup4HumanRights
Global groups call for action to protect human rights in development Ahead of Human Rights Day, December 10th, the Coalition for Human Rights in Development joins with over 50 civil society groups around the world to call on financial institutions, governments and businesses to stand up for human
Dec 02,2016 by members
Groups call on OPIC to strengthen human rights due diligence
This month, 18 human rights and environmental organizations called on the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States’ development finance institution, to strengthen its human rights due diligence. OPIC is presently revising its social and environmental polic