Improving the policies and practices of multilateral development banks like the World Bank is a fundamental part of the Center’s work. On the world stage, we recently won a major victory by prompting the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) to take on an active role in addressing the policies of the World Bank and its impacts on indigenous peoples.
At the urging of the Center and various indigenous peoples caucuses, the UNPFII has scheduled a focused dialogue on the World Bank during their May 2013 annual session. The timing of the session coincides with the Bank’s own revision of its social and environmental policies, including the Indigenous Peoples Policy. The goal is to bring World Bank activities into compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
During the discussion, the Permanent Forum will review the World Bank’s policies and its impacts on indigenous peoples. The Bank will be asked to report on whether it is meeting its obligations to respect the rights of indigenous peoples. Indigenous leaders will be able join the discussion with Permanent Forum members and government representatives to offer their perspectives and recommendations on how to improve Bank policies and projects that have often brought harm to their communities and environments.
To provide context for the Forum discussion, the Forum’s point person on World Bank issues, Eva Biaudet, will prepare a report on how the World Bank’s existing policies do or do not reflect the UN Declaration and whether Bank processes include indigenous peoples’ effective participation.
The Center will be contributing analysis to this discussion, encouraging indigenous leaders and affected-communities to submit their concerns and recommendations, and providing support to indigenous leaders who plan to participate in the half-day session. Stay tuned for future updates on how you can get involved.