UN EXPERTS URGE WORLD BANK TO ADOPT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS IN ITS POLICIES

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 18 Apr 2013 14:00:01 -0400
Subject: UN EXPERTS URGE WORLD BANK TO ADOPT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS IN
ITS POLICIES
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

UN EXPERTS URGE WORLD BANK TO ADOPT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS IN ITS POLICIES
New York, Apr 18 2013 2:00PM
Ahead of a key meeting to review the World Bank's social policies, a
group of United Nations independent experts called on the organization
to adopt human rights standards to ensure its measures do not
unintentionally harm the world's most vulnerable populations.

"All activities supported by the World Bank, not only its investment
lending, should be included in the review to ensure consistency with
international human rights standards," said the group of experts in a
news release.

"Doing so would improve development outcomes and strengthen the
protection of the world's poorest from unintended adverse impacts of
activities financed by the Bank," they said.

The group consists of: the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and
human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda, the Special Rapporteur on the
rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, the Special Rapporteur on
the right to food, Olivier De Schutter and the Independent Expert on
foreign debt and human rights, Cephas Lumina.

Their call was made ahead of the conclusion of the first consultation
period this weekend of a two-year review of the World Bank's social
and environmental policies – also known as safeguard policies.

The review is an opportunity to broaden the World Bank's scope in
areas related to human rights such as disability, gender, labour, land
tenure, and the rights of indigenous people. A first draft of the
revised policies, which will be open for public comment, is expected
in the next few months.

"Unfortunately, economic development can have negative as well as
positive impacts," said Ms. Sepúlveda. "Often, the poorest of the poor
do not benefit from development, or even worse, it is undertaken at
their expense."

For Mr. Anaya, the review "is an opportunity for the World Bank to
heed the call of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, which provides that States, intergovernmental
organizations, and UN specialized agencies, including the World Bank,
shall promote respect for full application and realization of, its
provisions."

Mr. De Schutter said that large-scale World Bank projects often have a
negative impact on land used by small-scale farmers, affecting their
right to food.

"The updated safeguard policies must ensure that the voice of affected
communities is more effectively heard, through inclusive and
participatory impact assessments and through effective accountability
mechanisms that provide effective remedies for any harm caused," he
said.

Mr. Lumina said it was no longer acceptable to use the excuse that the
World Bank is precluded by its Articles of Agreement from taking human
rights into consideration in the design and implementation of its
policies and projects.

"The Articles allow, and in some circumstances, enjoin the Bank to
recognize the human rights implications of its development policies
and activities," Mr. Lumina said. "We should not forget that States
must also adhere to their international law obligations when they act
through international organizations. The World Bank is no exception."
Apr 18 2013 2:00PM
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