James Wolfensohn recently replied to an NGO letter of last summer requesting clarification of what the Bank planned to do to implement a human rights agenda.
Human rights
Rights
News
UK ministers urged to clarify position on Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
Following a visit to the UK by activists from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey UK groups have sent relevant UK ministers a memorandum outlining 10 sets of issues, including assessment, consultation and compensation as well as corruption, debt and legal issues. They are demanding a response before the IFC takes a decision to move the project into its decision-making cycle (posted 18 Nov. 02).
Rights
News
Human rights: little progress
The Bank is taking a softly-softly approach to human rights despite announcements earlier in the year that it wanted to clarify its position.
Rights
News
The World Bank at the World Summit: Green, Marxist or unchanged?
The World Bank has been very active at the Johannesburg summit.
Rights
News
Turkish oil project raises human rights, governance concerns
An agreement between oil multinationals and the government of Turkey for an IFC-backed pipeline exempts the companies from obligations under Turkish law that may threaten the project’s profits, including environmental, social and human rights legislation.
Rights
News
Bank inspectors find fault with Chad Cameroon pipeline project
The Bank’s own Inspection Panel has backed many of the complaints by non-governmental organizations about a major oil pipeline in West Africa.
Rights
News
UN report urges greater IMF and WB accountability
The United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report 2002 has called for more democracy and accountability of international financial institutions.
Rights
News
IFIs must respect human rights
The World Bank and the IMF are bound by obligations enshrined in international human rights covenants, and must incorporate human rights considerations in the formulation and review of their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).
Infrastructure
News
Nigerians condemn IFC collaboration with Shell
IFC plans for a joint project with the Shell oil company in Nigeria have been condemned by Niger Delta-based community organisations and international human rights groups.
Rights
News
Human rights abuses in Indonesia
In a letter to Bank President, James Wolfensohn, the Japanese Network for Indonesian Democracy, called for the Indonesian Consultative Group meeting, scheduled for 17-18th October in Japan, to be postponed until the human rights situation improved.
Featured briefings
7 October 2021
World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings 2021
30 September 2021
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2021
29 September 2021
World Bank’s plans for Indonesia: Delayed action on climate and continued coal and gas support
Indonesian civil society have raised concerns that the World Bank is promoting gas and supporting further coal expansion in its new Country Partnership Framework.