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Ethiopia, Kenya: World Bank Approves Controversial Loan

July 13th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The World Bank undermined the rights of indigenous peoples and the environment with its approval on July 12, 2012, of a US$684 million loan. The loan is for a 1000-kilometer transmission line that would supply power to Kenya from Ethiopia’s controversial Gibe III dam.

(Washington, DC) – The World Bank undermined the rights of indigenous peoples and the environment with its approval on July 12, 2012, of a US$684 million loan, Human Rights Watch, Friends of Lake Turkana, Interna

Posted in Africa, Business, Environment, ESC Rights, Ethiopia, Gibe III dam, Kenya, Omo Valley, Press release, World Bank, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

Angola: IMF Should Insist on Audit

July 11th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should insist that Angola’s government explain how it spent more than US$41.8 billion in unaccounted oil revenues from 2007 to 2011, Human Rights Watch, Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA)-Angola and the Revenue Watch Institute said in a letter to the IMF released today. The IMF’s Executive Board is scheduled to meet on July 11, 2012, in Washington, DC, to discuss Angola as part of an annual review of each of its member countries.

(Washington, DC) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should insist that Angola’s government explain how it spent more than US$41.8 billion in unaccounted oil revenues from 2007 to 2011, Human Rights Watch, Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA)-Angola and the Revenue Watch Institute said in a letter to the IMF relea

Posted in Africa, Angola, Business, Extractive Industries, IMF, Press release, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

World Bank: Power Project Threatens Indigenous Peoples

July 11th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The World Bank should ensure that the rights of indigenous peoples and the environment are rigorously protected before funding a power transmission line connecting Kenya to a controversial dam in Ethiopia. The World Bank’s board of directors is scheduled to meet on July 12, 2012 to consider the project.

(Washington, DC) – The World Bank should ensure that the rights of indigenous peoples and the environment are rigorously protected before funding a power transmission line connecting Kenya to a controversial dam in Ethiopia, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to World Bank President Jim Yong Kim

Posted in Africa, Business, development, Environment, ESC Rights, Ethiopia, Global Initiatives, Press release, World Bank, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

Rio + 20 missed an opportunity to bolster human rights

June 27th, 2012 | Author: Jan Egeland and Jessica Evans

Development initiatives without a clear commitment to non-discrimination and addressing the needs of marginalised and vulnerable communities are wrong in that they violate human rights. But they can also drive injustice, poverty and conflict, and are ultimately unsustainable.

"They come every day … four or five cars usually – 20 to 60 soldiers. They say, 'We need this land for sugar, so you shouldn't be here' … We say, 'We don't want [sugar]', but that is not the right answer. They hit us or they take us to jail."

Posted in Africa, Brazil, Business, Corporations, development, Environment, ESC Rights, Ethiopia, free speech, Global Initiatives, Health, Press release, Reproductive Choices and Sexual Autonomy, Rio+20, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Women's Rights, World Bank, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

Rio + 20: Outcome Document Undermined by Rights Opponents

June 22nd, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Global economic troubles are being matched by a recession in human rights with worryingly minimal commitments coming out of the United Nations Rio+20 conference on Sustainable Development, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Center for International Environment Law (CIEL) said at the close of the conference.

(Rio de Janeiro) – Global economic troubles are being matched by a recession in human rights with worryingly minimal commitments coming out of the United Nations Rio+20 conference on Sustainable Development, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Center for International Environment Law (CIEL) said today at the close of the conference.

Posted in Americas, Brazil, Business, development, Environment, ESC Rights, free speech, Global Initiatives, Press release, Reproductive Choices and Sexual Autonomy, Rio +20, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Trade, Women's Rights, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

Ethiopia: Pastoralists Forced off Their Land for Sugar Plantations

June 18th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Ethiopian government is forcibly displacing indigenous pastoral communities in Ethiopia’s Lower Omo valley without adequate consultation or compensation to make way for state-run sugar plantations. The report contains previously unpublished government maps that show the extensive developments planned for the Omo valley, including irrigation canals, sugar processing factories, and 100,000 hectares of other commercial agriculture.

(Nairobi) – The Ethiopian government is forcibly displacing indigenous pastoral communities in Ethiopia’s Lower Omo valley without adequate consultation or compensation to make way for state-run sugar plantations, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Posted in Africa, Business, Corporations, Environment, ESC Rights, Ethiopia, Global Initiatives, Press release, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

Rio + 20: Anchor Sustainable Development in Human Rights

June 12th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

World leaders have a once in a generation chance to create a meaningful link between sustainable development and human rights, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said in a joint statement targeting Environment and Foreign Affairs ministers gathering in Rio.

(New York) – World leaders have a once in a generation chance to create a meaningful link between sustainable development and human rights, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today in a joint statement targeting Environment and Foreign Affairs ministers gathering in Rio.

Posted in Brazil, Business, Children's Rights, development, Education, Environment, ESC Rights, Global Initiatives, Health, Health care access, Press release, Rio +20, Trade, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

World Bank: Transparency Helps Defeat Corruption

June 4th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The World Bank took an important step to fight corruption on May 30, 2012, by publishing decisions to sanction companies for misconduct. The World Bank should adopt a similar approach to its lending in countries with poor human rights records.

(Washington, DC) – The World Bank took an important step to fight corruption on May 30, 2012, by publishing decisions to sanction companies for misconduct, Human Rights Watch said today. The World Bank should adopt a similar approach to its lending in countries with poor human rights records, Human Rights Watch said.

Posted in Asia, Burma, Business, Corruption, Press release, World Bank, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

EBRD: Use Expansion to Promote Rights

May 18th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) should articulate concrete human rights benchmarks for Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia as it expands its operations into the Middle East and North Africa.

(London) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) should articulate concrete human rights benchmarks for Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia as it expands its operations into the Middle East and North Africa, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter sent to the bank’s president, Thomas Mirow.

Posted in Business, Egypt, Jordan, Middle East/N. Africa, Morocco/Western Sahara, Press release, Tunisia, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed

Philippines: Officials Hide Poor From Development Meeting

May 3rd, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Philippine government built a fence that prevents participants to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual meeting in Manila from seeing a slum.

(Manila) – The Philippine government built a fence that prevents participants to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual meeting in Manila from seeing a slum, Human Rights Watch said today. Some of the poor families hidden from view are beneficiaries of apoverty reduction program financed by the bank.

Posted in Asia, Asian Development Bank, Business, Philippines, Press release, World Bank, IMF | Comments Closed