Human rights

Rights

News

Groups attack World Bank standards

More than 200 civil society organisations and socially responsible investors called on the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, to protect the interests of the poorest and the public when setting rules governing global private investment

2 December 2004

Rights

News

World Bank accountability: demand for reparations won't go away

In 1982 more than 400 Maya Ach

22 November 2004

Accountability

News

Private sector safeguard review continues despite boycotts

Civil society organisations globally have stepped up their campaign against the International Finance Corporation's process to overhaul its safeguard policies.

15 November 2004

Environment

News

Board accepts management response to report on oil and mining

The management response to the Extractive Industries Review (EIR) - described by development and environment campaigners as "completely inadequate" - was accepted by the board of the World Bank at the beginning of August. The management response rejected calls in the review for a phase-out of support for oil and coal, made merely symbolic gestures towards increasing support for renewables, and watered down language on the rights of indigenous peoples to oversee extractive developments on their l

21 September 2004

Environment

News

Two decades of environmental and social protection policies at risk

Bank watchers fear that a new plan to harmonise Bank environmental and social safeguard policies with national rules will sacrifice years of hard-won policy provisions "in one big sweep".

21 September 2004

Rights

News

Nam Theun 2: Decision pending serious problems remain

The deadline for the Bank's decision to finance the controversial Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric power project in Lao PDR is fast approaching. However, long-term opponents of the project predict that its environmental and social outcomes will be disastrous, and criticize the current consultation process as fundamentally flawed.

21 September 2004

Rights

News

Private sector safeguard review "fundamentally flawed"

Civil society organisations have expressed alarm at the process recently launched by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) - the World Bank Group's private sector lending arm- to overhaul its safeguard policies.

21 September 2004

Rights

News

Guatemalan gold project gets financing

Campaigners worry that community rights will be disregarded by a Guatemalan gold mine backed by the IFC.

27 July 2004

Infrastructure

News

Bank response to oil, gas and mining review “completely inadequate”

The Bank management response to the recommendations of the Extractive Industries Review was released 18 June to widespread criticism.

26 July 2004

Infrastructure

News

Wolfensohn discusses human rights, environment at Greenpeace lecture

The World Bank’s president made interesting statements on human rights and climate change. But he was not specific and he asserted brashly that his institution has not harmed indigenous people since he has been in charge.

24 May 2004