We are submitting herewith our recommendations to the ongoing safeguards review of the World Bank. This letter is endorsed by 49 indigenous peoples organizations and institutions and 55 support groups and individuals.
We also submitted a number of communications stating our recommendations to the safeguards and the consultation process with indigenous peoples which we hope the Bank has taken into account in the safeguards review.
As the President of the World Bank Group we hope you can take positive actions in line with the recognition and respect for indigenous peoples rights in the Safeguard policies and strategies of the Bank. Now is the time to make a difference and rebuild partnership with indigenous peoples as key partner in achieving sustainable development for all.
With regards,
Joan Carling Secretary General, AIPP
4 June 2014
Dr. Jim Yong Kim President The World Bank group Washington DC
Dear Dr. Kim,
As the World Bank nears the completion of the first phase of its safeguards review we see this as a unique opportunity for the Bank to demonstrate its ability to listen and be more inclusive to the voices, demands of and be more accountable to key stakeholders including indigenous peoples. In particular, we believe that your positive intervention at this critical stage of the review process in relation to the recognition, protection and promotion of indigenous peoples rights, in particular to land tenure and Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), will signal a new path for the Banks commitment to building the trust of indigenous peoples as key partner and rights-holder in sustainable development. The importance of these fundamental rights has been clearly articulated in all the consultations with and submissions by indigenous peoples in the review process.
For the more than 350 million indigenous peoples who comprises at least 15% of the poorest of the poor, the core poverty alleviation objective of the Bank is unachievable as long as the Banks strategies, programmes and projects are not aligned to the respect and protection of human rights, and to the protection of the environment. The historical legacy of the Banks performance has been marked with the massive violations of the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources, to their sustainable livelihoods and meaning participation in decision- making including in the governance of their territories and for sustainable development. In this context, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007 as an act of achieving social justice, non-discrimination, equality and development for all. Thus, states that comprise the Bank have a clear obligation to clear obligation to respect and implement the rights of indigenous peoples as embodied in the UNDRIP. The Bank cannot thereby exempt itself from this obligation, and should in fact be a leading institution in abiding with the minimum standards for the respect and protection of human rights as a fundamental foundation for its interventions in sustainable development. This should be embedded in its safeguard policies with clear provisions for its operationalization not only at the project level but also in the strategic programmes of the World Bank.
With this, we again would like to reiterate our key recommendation that the Indigenous Peoples Policy of the Bank (OP 4.10) be retained as a stand-alone policy with the inclusion of the following:
1. The right to Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Convention 169, along with the recognition and respect of the rights of indigenous peoples.
The requirement to obtain the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of indigenous peoples shall ensure the respect for their collective decision and their self-determined process of decision-making in line with the exercise of their collective rights. Through the
proper implementation of FPIC, we believe genuine partnership and cooperation with indigenous peoples for sustainable development can be achieved and enhanced. Further, the development of the Indigenous Peoples Plan based on a clear agreement with indigenous peoples for projects to go ahead, shall be mainly driven by indigenous peoples to account for their needs and priorities, including their own system of collective management of resources and strengthening community cooperation and solidarity. Key Indicators shall also be developed in line with the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples Plan and effective grievance mechanism at the local level shall be provided.
2. Explicit recognition of the rights and security of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources.
At the outset, the Bank shall clearly state its commitment to respect and recognize the right of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources, including the associated social, cultural and economic systems and sustainable practices of indigenous peoples. In this regard, the operationalization of the safeguard policies shall include clear provisions and indicators on how this will be undertaken to ensure the protection of their collective rights and overall well-being as rights-holders and partners in sustainable development.
3. Ensure the inclusion of indigenous peoples of Africa as recognized by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in the application of the WB Policy on indigenous peoples, as well as other relevant safeguard policies. Inclusive consultations with indigenous peoples including in Africa shall be ensured in the safeguard review process and their views and recommendations shall be fully considered in the finalization of the safeguards.
Aside from the above mentioned recommendation, we also wish to reiterate our recommendations in our previous communications to your office on the conduct of inclusive consultation with indigenous peoples in all regions during the safeguards review.
Further we also draw your attention to the recommendations made by the members of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to the World Bank in their 2013 report attached herein.
We wish to reiterate our request to you, as the President of the World Bank Group, to take positive actions in line with the recognition and respect for indigenous peoples rights in the Safeguard policies and strategies of the Bank. Now is the time to make a difference and rebuild partnership with indigenous peoples as key partner in achieving sustainable development for all.
We thereby count on your support
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ORGANIZATIONS/INSTITUTIONS
No. ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION COUNTRY 1 Indigenous of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC) Africa 2 African Indigenous Peoples Network (AIPN) Africa
3 Association Pour L Integration et le Development Durable el Burundi Burundi 4 Kapaeeng Foundation Bangladesh 5 Cambodia Indigenous Youth Association (CIYA) Cambodia 6 Organization to Promote Kui Culture (OPKC) Cambodia 7 Highlander Association (HA) Cambodia 8 Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon Authorities (OPIAC) Colombia 9 Dynamique Communautaire Pour LEmancipation Des Peuples Autochtones Pygmees Congo 10 Association of Indigenous Peoples in Ryukyus (AIPR) Japan 11 Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (ICITP) India 12 Borosa Foundation for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights India 13 Peoples Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement India 14 Mising Bane Kebang (Mising Apex Council) India 15 Zomi Human Rights Foundation India 16 Adivasi Womens Network (AWN) India 17 Adivasi Navjeewan Gathan Navjyoti Agua (ANGNA) India 18 Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights India 19 Bhaiya Ram Munda Foundation India 20 Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN) Indonesia 21 Sengwer Indigenous Peoples Programme (SIPP) Kenya 22 Maa Civil Society Forum/Indigenous Concerns Resource Center Kenya 23 PACOS Trust Malaysia 24 Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) Malaysia 25 Tin Hinane Mali 26 Kachin Peace Network Myanmar 27 Chin Human Rights Organization Myanmar 28 Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Nepal 29 Association of Nepal Kirat Kulung Language and Cultural Development (ANKKLACD) Nepal 30 Lawyers Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP) Nepal 31 Indigenous Women League Nepal Nepal 32 NGO Arc-En-Ciel Niger 33 Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas ECMIA Peru 34 CHIRAPAQ, Center of Indigenous Cultures of Peru Peru 35 Philippine Task Force for Indigenous Peoples Rights (TFIP) Philippines 36 Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Philippines 37 Tribal Government of the Philippines Philippines 38 Tebtebba Philippines 39 Tangguyub Peoples Center Philippines 40 Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) Philippines 41 Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI) Philippines
42 Asia Indigenous Womens Network (AIWN) 43 Consejo Indio De Sud America (CISA) Switzerland 44 Kachin Womens Association Thailand Thailand 45 Yamasi People US 46 Council of Indigenous Peoples in Today's Vietnam (CIP-TVN) US 47 Center for Sustainable Development in Mountainous Areas (CSDM) Vietnam 48 Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (AIPNEE)
49 Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
SUPPORT GROUPS
No. ORGANIZATION COUNTRY 1 Humanity Watch Bangladesh 2 Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network Bangladesh 3 11.11.11 The Coalition of the Flemish North-South Movement Belgium 4 Actions Birmanie Belgium 5 Indigenous Community Support Organization (ICSO) Cambodia 6 Heinrich Boell Stiftung Cambodia Office Cambodia 7 NGO Forum on Cambodia Cambodia 8 Building Community Voices Cambodia 9 Equitable Cambodia Cambodia 10 Alternatives Durables pour le Dveloppement (ADD) Cameroon 11 Maison de lEnfant et de la Femme Pygmes Congo 12 Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) Egypt 13 ONG AGAFI (Association Gabonaise d'Assistance aux Femmes Indignes et Indigentes) Gabon 14 Urgewald Germany 15 Center for Research and Advocacy Manipur India 16 Committee for the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur India 17 SONIA Italy 18 Jamaa Resource Initiatives Kenya 19 Community Action for Nature Conservation - CANCO Kenya 20 Green Community Alliance ( GCA ) Laos 21 Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia Malaysia 22 Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) Malaysia 23 Center for Human Rights and Development Mongolia 24 Shwe Gas Movement Myanmar 25 ALTSEAN Burma Myanmar 26 Land Core Group Myanmar 27 Netherlands Centre for Indigenous Peoples (NCIV) Netherlands 28 Club des Etudiants en Droit de l'Universit de Niamey (CEDUN) Niger 29 Rainforest Foundation Norway Norway 30 Damaan Development Organization Pakistan 31 Earthsavers Movement Philippines 32 Grupo Intercultural ALMACIGA Spain
33 HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Switzerland 34 Peoples Empowerment Foundation (PEF) Thailand 35 Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) Thailand 36 Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-news.co UK 37 Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) UK 38 Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links (PIPLinks) UK 39 Burma Campaign UK UK 40 Global Witness UK 41 Rainforest Action Network US 42 Boat People SOS US 43 Accountability Counsel US 44 Bank Information Center (BIC) US 45 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur US 46 US Campaign for Burma US 47 Natural Justice US 48 Institute for Asian Democracy US 49 Center for International Environmental Law US 50 SIL International US 51 Centre of Research and Development in Upland Area (CERDA) Vietnam 52 ASEAN Parliamentarian for Human Rights INDIVIDUALS 1 Hema Broad, Aotearoa New Zealand 2 Ian G. Baird Assistant Professor Department of Geography University of Wisconsin-Madison US 3 Robert E. Mose Consultant for Sustainable Development of Indigenous Peoples in Central Africa US