13 September 2017

Are Multilateral Development Banks Respecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Development?

This month marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This landmark international document, though imperfect, contains important provisions for countries to protect the right of Indigenous Peoples to freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development. Today, a decade later, the international community should evaluate the progress made, and challenges that remain, in protecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights. One area where UNDRIP can offer a guide for the protection of Indigenous rights is in projects financed by multilateral development banks. Banks like the World Bank Group and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have much work remaining to ensure that Indigenous Peoples’ rights are respected; this anniversary is an opportunity to examine what these institutions lack.

Read the full article here.