Global development summit needs human rights focus, say 200 organizations around the world

3 September 2020

In a letter addressed to the French Development Agency, over 200 organizations around the world are calling for the principles of a human rights-based and community-led development to be included and prioritized both in the agenda and in the outcomes of the Finance in Common Summit, a high-level gathering of all Public Development Banks, which will take place in Paris on 9-12 November.

You can download the full letter in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. If you wish to endorse the letter and join our calls, you can sign up here. 

From November 9th to 12th, 2020, the French Development Agency will convene the first global summit of all Public Development Banks (PDBs). Gathering PDBs from around the world, it is aimed to provide a collective response to global challenges, reconciling short-term responses to the Covid-19 crisis with sustainable recovery measures, redirecting financial flows towards sustainable development objectives.

The summit is highly relevant and timely, but for a truly comprehensive and inclusive dialogue, it should draw lessons from the past to shape the strongest future with full participation of the communities impacted by PDB projects and supporting civil society organizations.  In many instances, PDB supported activities have exacerbated poverty and inequality and human rights abuses such as reprisals against human rights defenders and forced evictions, without meaningful redress for affected communities. The summit should include reflection and discussion on the importance of respecting international human rights standards in achieving sustainable recovery goals, including addressing human rights abuses widely documented in PDB supported investments and projects. The summit should contend with the challenges of increased investment from PDBs lacking robust standards for human rights, social and environmental protection, climate change, and anti-corruption, or where those standards exist, how to address failures to follow them in practice. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted and aggravated the failures of the health, social, and economic systems, requiring a deep rethinking of the way governments, PDBs, and other actors operate. Several grassroots community groups and organisations have been calling on PDBs to ensure that the funding and support they provide for the Covid-19 response, and during the economic recovery period, respects human rights and leads to economic, social and environmental justice for those who are most vulnerable. New impetus in attaining the core principle of “leave no one behind” is needed. 

We welcome the opportunity to engage with PDBs during the summit to better serve the principles and goals of international human rights standards, the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), transparency, and accountability.  To that end however, and as a matter of credibility and efficiency, it must be a priority to ensure human rights and community needs are explicitly discussed and part of the joint declaration foreseen at the end of the summit. As stated by OHCHR last year:

 “with the most pivotal decade of SDG implementation ahead of us, human rights are not only the right way, but the smart way to accelerate progress for more equitable and sustainable development. Development is not just about changing the material conditions …. It is also about empowering people with voice … to be active participants in designing their own solutions and shaping development policy. … Empowering people means moving beyond purely technocratic solutions and treating people as passive objects of aid or charity. People are empowered when they are able to claim their rights and to shape the decisions, policies, rules and conditions that affect their lives.”

As SDGs are at the core of the summit, human rights and participation of communities are then key. That requires adapting the agenda and the expected outcomes. Our recommendations on ensuring an inclusive event follow:

1. Human Rights should be reflected in the core agenda of the summit, attendance and participation. As conceived, the research conference and summit do not appear  to provide specific space to human rights defenders and community representatives. Commitment to public participation and protection of civil society space have long been recognised as essential to ensuring effective development. Human rights and grassroots organizations, human rights defenders, and communities should guide the future of the development model, and therefore should be involved in organizing,  contributing to the agenda, and participating in the summit. It is a matter of priority to have human rights defenders and communities directly impacted by PDB activities at the table.

2. The principles of a human rights-based and community-led development should be included and highlighted on the expected deliverables of the summit including research papers and collective statements. We encourage governments and PDBs to make a commitment  to reinforce and strengthen the principles of human rights-based and community-led development in PDBs’ mandate and governance; policies and practices; internal culture and incentives; what projects and activities they support and invest in; and how they work with other PDBs, governments and key actors. These commitments should lead to improvements, such as: 

1. Full and free participation of directly affected communities in all PDB supported activities and projects, and free prior and informed consent for indigenous peoples. Innovative approaches will have to be developed to address the closing space, risks and challenges for communities, human rights defenders and civil society to meaningfully participate in decisions that impact their lives, livelihoods, environment and resources. Zero tolerance policies against threats and reprisals by PDBs and their clients should be a basic requirement.
2. Identifying investments  that are aligned with international human rights, climate protection, and SDGs, and reorienting investments towards sustainable development that respects these standards, while ensuring that the priorities and needs of marginalised persons are met. 
3. Improving social and environmental requirements through inclusion of human rights standards. PDBs and their clients should adhere to human rights principles and standards enshrined in international conventions. Safeguard policies and procedures should ensure that activities financed directly or indirectly by PDBs, respect human rights, do not contribute to human rights abuse, and contribute to equitable, inclusive development that benefits all persons. 
4. Developing and improving transparency, monitoring, oversight, grievance and accountability mechanisms to actively prevent PDB activities and investments from undermining human rights. 
5. Ensuring private sector clients or partners also adopt high human rights and environmental standards, and do not avoid or evade taxes. 
6. Development of common guidance by PDBs on ex ante human rights due diligence and impact assessments in project investments and in support for economic reform policies or programs. This includes identification of contextual and specific risks, prevention and mitigation strategies, and remedy in line with international human rights norms. Ensure that these assessments are developed in close consultation with affected communities, and are updated iteratively based on changing conditions and new information.
7. Developing coordinated approaches to ensure that PDB supported activities do not exacerbate debt or contribute to cutbacks in public expenditure that will negatively impact human rights or access to essential services for the most vulnerable.

As reiterated by the OHCHR, effective governance for sustainable development requires non-discriminatory, inclusive, participatory, and accountable governance. With the most pivotal decade of SDG implementation ahead of us — and in the context of intersecting health, environmental, economic and social crises building greater integration and coherence between the development and human rights agendas will be key:

“Human rights are not only a guide on the right way to achieve SDG implementation, but the smart way to accelerate more sustainable and equitable development”. 

PDBs should open channels for the meaningful participation of communities, human rights defenders, and civil society groups in the appraisal, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of their projects and activities, as well as in their decision-making processes. For these reasons, the agenda and the deliverable of the summit should duly reflect the centrality of human rights and community-led development to effective and sustainable development.

Signatories

1. 350.org – Japan
2. Abibiman Foundation – Ghana
3. AbibiNsroma Foundation – Ghana
4. Accountability Counsel – USA
5. ACT Alliance Advocacy to the EU – Belgium
6. Action contre la Faim – France
7. Action Santé Mondiale – France
8. ActionAid International – International
9. Adivasi Nanjeewan Gathan Navjyoti Agua (ANGNA) – India
10. Adivasi Navjeewan Gathan Navjyoti Agua (ANGNA) – India
11. Al-Haq – Palestine
12. Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities – Ghana
13. Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities – Ghana
14. Al-Marsad- Arab Human rights Center in Golan Heights – Occupied Syrian Golan
15. Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma) – Burma/Myanmar
16. Alyansa Tigil Mina – Philippines
17. Ambiente y Sociedad – Colombia
18. Anti GERB Coalition – Bulgaria
19. Arab Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (AFRPD) – MENA
20. Arab Watch Coalition – MENA
21. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Regenwald und Artenschutz (ARA e.V) – Germany
22. Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy – Asia
23. Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) – Thailand
24. Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) – Asia
25. Asociacion para el Desarrollo Integral de las victimas de la Violencia en las Verapaces, Maya Achi (ADIVIMA) – Guatemala
26. Asociación Unión de Talleres 11 de Septiembre – Bolivia
27. Association Democratique des Femmes du Maroc (ADFM) – Morocco
28. Association Green Alternative – Georgia
29. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) – Myanmar
30. Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons – Indian Administered Jammu and Kashmir
31. Association Rwandaise pour la Défense des Droits de la Personne et des Libertés Publiques (ADL) – Rwanda
32. Association Tunisienne pour le Droit de Développement – Tunisia
33. Autistic Minority International – Switzerland, Global
34. Bank Information Center – USA
35. Bankwatch Network Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) – Europe
36. Both ENDS – Netherlands
37. Bretton Woods Project – UK
38. Buliisa Initiative for Rural Development Organisation (BIRUDO) – Uganda
39. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre – Global
40. Bytes For All – Pakistan
41. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) – Middle East and North Africa
42. Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) – Canada
43. CARE France – France
44. Catholic Board of Education Odisha – India
45. Center for Economic and Social Rights – USA
46. Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) – Global
47. Center for Pan-African Affairs – USA
48. Centre de Recherche pour un Développement Intégrale et Durable (CeRDID ONG) – Benin
49. Centre for Citizens Conserving (CECIC ) – Uganda
50. Centre for Human Rights and Development – Mongolia
51. Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur – Manipur, India
52. Centre International de Formation en Droits Humains et Développement (CIFDH/D) – DRC
53. Centre Libanais des droits humains (CLDH) – Lebanon
54. Centre national de coopération au développement (CNCD-11.11.11) – Belgium
55. Centro de Estudios de la Región Cuicateca, Oaxaca – Mexico
56. Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los derechos Humanos – Honduras
57. Centro de Políticas Públicas y Derechos Humanos – Perú EQUIDAD – Peru
58. Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental, A.C. (CEMDA) – Mexico
59. Centro Nicaraguense de Derechos Humanos CENIDH – Nicaragua
60. Chairperson Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization Public Union – Azerbaijan
61. Civil Society Institute NGO, Armenia – Armenia
62. Climate Action Network – Europe
63. Climate Action Network International – Mexico
64. CNS/ Asha Parivar – India
65. Coalition for Human Rights in Development – Global
66. Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) – Bangladesh
67. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) – India
68. Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network (CEMSOJ) – Nepal
69. Community Resource Centre (CRC) – Thailand
70. Consejo de Pueblos Wuxhtaj – Guatemala
71. Convergencia por los Derechos Humanos (CAFCA, CALDH, CIIDH, ECAP, ICCPG, ODHAG, SEDEM, UDEFEGUA, UNAMG) – Guatemala
72. CooperAcción – Peru
73. Coordinadora de Comunidades Afectadas por la Cosntruccion de la Hidroelectrica Chixoy (COCAHICH) – Guatemala
74. Counter Balance – Europe
75. Crude Accountability – USA
76. Damascus Center for human rights studies – Syria
77. Defenders Protection Initiative – Uganda
78. Defenders Protection Initiative (DPI) – Uganda, Africa
79. Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center in Palestine – Palestine
80. Derecho Ambiente y Recursos Naturales – Peru
81. Disabled People’s International (DPI) – International
82. Displaced Kids Association – Iraq
83. EarthRights International – USA
84. Egyptian Center for Civil and Legislative Reform (ECCLR) – Egypt
85. Endorois Welfare Council (EWC) – Kenya
86. Environics Trust – India
87. Environment Governance Institute – Uganda
88. Environment Governance Institute – Uganda
89. Equidad de Género: Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia – Mexico
90. Equitable Cambodia – Cambodia
91. ESCR-Net – Global
92. European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) – Belgium, Europe
93. FIAN – International
94. FIAN Austria
95. FIAN Belgium
96. FIAN Germany
97. FIAN Sweden
98. FIAN Switzerland
99. First Peoples Worldwide – USA
100. FOCSIV – Italy
101. Forest Peoples Programme – Netherlands, UK
102. Former UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs, Michel Forst (2014-2020) – France
103. Foro Ciudadano de Participación por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos (FOCO) – Argentina Dynamo International – Belgium
104. Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) – Uganda
105. Foundation for the Conservation of the Earth – Nigeria
106. Freedom from Debt Coalition – Philippines
107. Freedom House – Global
108. Friends of the Earth Japan – Japan
109. Friends of the Earth United States – USA
110. Friends of the Siberian Forests – Russia
111. Friends with Environment in Development – East Africa
112. Front Line Defenders – Ireland
113. Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN) – Argentina
114. Fundacion Cauce (Cultura Ambiental, Causa Ecologista) – Argentina
115. Fundación para el Desarrollo de Políticas Sustentables (Fundeps) – Argentina
116. Gender and Social Justice
117. Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) – Belgium/International
118. Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – Global
119. Global Policy Forum – International
120. Global Social Justice – Switzerland
121. Global Witness – Global
122. Green Advocates International – Liberia
123. Haki Jamii Rights Centre – Kenya
124. Heartland Initiative – USA
125. Heinrich Böll Stiftung – Washington, DC – USA
126. Heinrich Böll Stiftung Washington, DC – USA
127. HRM “Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan” – Kyrgyzstan
128. Human Rights Center of Georgia – Georgia
129. Human Rights in China (HRIC) – China
130. Human Rights International Corner ETS – Italy
131. Human Rights Watch – International
132. iLaw – Thailand
133. India Indigenous Peoples – India
134. Indian Social Action Forum – India
135. Indigenous Peoples Forum Odisha – India
136. Inspire Girls Foundation (IGF) – Uganda
137. Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) – Indonesia
138. Instituto Mexicano Para El Desarrollo Comunitario Ac – Mexico
139. Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense – Latin America
140. International Accountability Project – Global
141. International Dalit Solidarity Network – South Asia
142. International Federation for Human Rights – International
143. International Rivers – USA and Global
144. International Trade Union Confederation – Global
145. International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific) – Malaysia
146. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) – Denmark
147. Internationale Liga für Menschenrechte – Germany
148. Jamaa Resource Initiatives – Kenya
149. Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society – Indian Administered Jammu and Kashmir
150. Joy for Children – Uganda
151. Just Associates (JASS) – Mesoamerica, Southeast Asia and Southern Africa
152. Justice for Iran – Iran
153. Kenya Union of Hair and Beauty Workers (KUHABWO) – Kenya
154. Koalisi Rakyat untuk Hak atas Air (KRuHA) – Indonesia
155. Lao Movement for Human Rights – Laos
156. Las abejas – Mexico
157. Latin America Working Group (LAWG) – USA
158. Latvian Human Rights Committee – Latvia
159. Lawyers for Human Rights, Manipur – India
160. Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP) – Nepal
161. Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment(LITE) Africa – Nigeria
162. League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran – Iran
163. Lebanese Union of Persons with Physical Disabilities (LUPD) – Lebanon
164. LGBT Centre – Mongolia
165. Liga voor de Rechten van de Mens (Dutch League for Human Rights) – The Netherlands
166. Ligue des droits de l’Homme – France (LDH) – France
167. Ligue des droits humains – Belgium
168. Lok Shakti Abhiyan – India
169. Lumière Synergie pour le Développement – Senegal
170. Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) – Maldives
171. MANUSHYA Foundation – Southeast Asia
172. Mekong Watch – Mekong Region
173. Mitini – Nepal
174. MONFEMNET National Network NGO – Mongolia
175. Movimento Nacional de Direitos Humanos – MNDH Brasil – Brazil
176. Narasha Community Development Group – Kenya
177. National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NAFIN) – Nepal
178. National Union of Domestic Employees Trinidad and Tobago – Caribbean
179. NGO “Youth Group on Protection of Environment” – Tajikistan
180. NGO Forum on ADB – Asia
181. NomoGaia – USA and Global
182. Odhikar – Bangladesh
183. Odisha Adivasi Manch – India
184. Oil Change International – Global
185. OPEN ASIA|Armanshahr – Afghanistan
186. Otros Mundos AC/Chiapas – Mexico
187. Oyu Tolgoi Watch – Mongolia
188. Pakistan Kissan(Farmers) Rabta Committee – United Kingdom
189. Partnership for Policy Integrity – USA
190. Peace Brigades International – Global
191. Phenix Center for Economic & Informatic Studies – Jordan
192. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) – Philippines
193. Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) – Philippines
194. Policy Alert – Nigeria
195. Press Freedom Advocacy Association – Iraq
196. Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy, Northeastern University School of Law – USA
197. Programme d’Appui à la Femme et à l’Enfance Déshéritée (PAFED) – Togo
198. Project HEARD – Netherlands
199. Project on Organizing, Development, Education and Research (PODER) – Mexico and Latin America
200. Protection International – Global
201. Psychological Responsiveness NGO – Mongolia
202. Public Administration New Initiative NGO – Mongolia
203. Public Interest Law Center (PILC) – USA
204. Recourse – The Netherlands
205. Red Internacional de Promotores ODS – Argentina
206. Réseau Action Climat France – France
207. Réseau Camerounais des Organisations des Droits de l’Homme (RECODH) – Cameroon
208. Réseau d’information et d’appui aux ONG en république démocratique du Congo  – Democratic Republic of Congo
209. Réseau International des Droits Humains RIDH – Switzerland
210. Resonate! Yemen – Yemen
211. Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) – UK
212. Rivers without Boundaries Coalition – Mongolia
213. Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition – Eurasia
214. Sisters’ Arab Forum for Human Rights (SAF) – Yemen
215. Social Initiatives for Growth and Networking (SIGN) – India
216. Solsoc – Belgium
217. Sri Lanka Nature Group – Sri Lanka
218. Steps Without Borders NGO – Mongolia
219. Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) – Yemen
220. SUARAM – Malaysia
221. Sustentarse – Chile
222. Swedwatch – Sweden
223. Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression – France
224. Tata Institute of Social Sceinces – India
225. Tebtebba – Philippines
226. The Community Association for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (ACPDH) – Burundi
227. The Lao Movement for Human Rights – Laos
228. The PRINCESS center for girls and young women’s rights – Mongolia
229. The Society of the Divine Word – India
230. Thy Kingdom Come Foundation – India
231. Tunisian Association for Governance and Social Accountability (GoAct) – Tunisia
232. Tunisian Association for Local Governance – Tunisia
233. Union for Civil Liberty – Thailand
234. Universal Rights and Development NGO – Mongolia
235. Urgewald – Germany
236. VedvarendeEnergi – Denmark and international
237. Verein für sozial-ökologischen Wandel – Germany and international
238. Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) – Vietnam
239. WATED – Tanzania
240. Wedian Association for Social Development – Yemen
241. Wemos – The Netherlands
242. Witness Radio – Uganda – Uganda
243. Women Engage for a Common Future – International
244. WoMin African Alliance – Africa
245. Yemen Observatory for Human Rights – Yemen
246. Yemeni Organization for Promoting Integrity (OPI) – Yemen
247. Youth For Environment Education And Development Foundation (YFEED Foundation) – Nepal