The third draft of the World Bank’s proposed new environmental and social safeguard policy, which will be reviewed for approval by the Bank’s Board this week, represents a significant missed opportunity. There are a wide of range of human rights concerns relating to the draft; this statement focuses on two glaring omissions: The lack of an overall commitment in the draft to respect human rights, and manifest gaps in the protection of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Rather than endorsing unacceptably weak environment and social safeguards, the Bank’s Board must act now to provide guidance and put in place safeguards that protect against human rights risks arising from its activities.
