Massive number of UN human rights watchdogs voice concerns on World Bank safeguards review
Published on Sat, 2014-12-20 23:00
In a letter to the World Bank President Mr Jim Kim, 28 UN human rights thematic mandate-holders conveyed several concerns regarding the World Bank’s latest draft of its Social and Environmental Safeguards. The Bank is embarked in a process to reform and streamline its Safeguard policies, process which Mr Kim had earlier promised will not lead to their dilution. Referring to the draft Bank document, however, the letter stated that “by contemporary standards, the document seems to go out of its way to avoid any meaningful references to human rights and international human rights law.” The experts added that “the Bank restricts itself to noting that its operations are, in ways that are not explained or elaborated, ‘supportive’ of human rights and that it will ‘encourage respect for them in a manner consistent with the Bank’s Articles of Agreement.’” Read full letter here. Source: RightingFinance. |
