Safeguarding Land, Housing and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

The Global Land Grabbing Crisis

The Costs of Displacement

There is nothing more fundamental to the fight against poverty and inequality than increasing secure and equitable access to land, housing and productive resources.

World Bank Safeguards Review: Opportunity or Threat?

Civil society calls 21st century Involuntary Resettlement Policy and Indigenous Policy, consistent with international human rights law standards.

New policy on tenure of land, housing and natural resources to ensure that Bank projects: Do not weaken or impede tenure rights Do not exacerbate conflict over land and natural resources Strengthen and secure tenure rights of vulnerable Promote more equitable access to land, housing and natural resources, with particular attention to rights of women

F irst Draft Environmental and Social Framework on land rights?

Positives Prohibition on forced evictions when ESS5 and ESS7 is triggered Compensation requirements redefined to ensure adequate replacement housing FPIC for Indigenous Peoples in ESS7

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Opt-Out? One hand giveth and the other taketh away…

Dismantling the World Bank Involuntary Resettlement Policy

Detailed due diligence requirements on the Bank to avoid displacement – Gone Sustainable development objective of resettlement – Gone Detailed requirements for resettlement-specific baseline studies – Gone Clear requirement to submit policy-compliant resettlement plan and adequate budget for Bank review prior to project approval – Gone Only sub-projects classified by borrowers as High Risk required to meet Bank standards

No serious protections against land grabbing

No objectives or serious measures to protect the land rights of the poor

The model Abandonment of up front requirements Open-ended compliance, based on discretion of Bank staff, not rules Increased reliance on borrower systems, self-assessments, reports and evaluations Increased implementation support? Total abdication of Bank responsibility to ensure no harm is done.

“…serve as the basis of a renewed partnership between the Bank and its borrowers – a partnership rooted in a common commitment to environmental and social sustainability.”