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E/C.19/2013/25
reviews, most notably the 2011 internal review report and the 2010 report by the
Independent Evaluation Group, Safeguards and Sustainability Policies in a
Changing World. Strict adherence to safeguards of indigenous peoples’ rights is
necessary. The Forum recommends that efforts be directed towards compliance
machinery within the Bank, both up front, when dealing with projects and design
and approval processes, and in post-project enforcement mechanisms.
58. The Forum also notes with concern that the World Bank’s operational policies,
including its policy on indigenous peoples, have limited application, covering only
investment lending and not other Bank operations. The Forum recommends that the
outcome target of the Bank’s process to review and update its safeguards be a set of
safeguards and follow-up mechanisms covering all finance instruments and all other
Bank operations.
59. The Permanent Forum calls upon the World Bank to strengthen its accountability
mechanisms so that they focus on situations in which its funded projects adversely
affect indigenous peoples and also to proactively implement specific measures to
meaningfully contribute to the progressive realization of the right of indigenous
peoples to self-determination.
60. The Permanent Forum recommends that the World Bank, in consultation with
the Forum and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, examine
the involuntary resettlement of indigenous peoples in connection with projects
financed by the Bank and submit a report thereon in 2014.
61. The Permanent Forum takes note of the announcement by the World Bank
concerning the establishment of an indigenous peoples advisory council. The Forum
recognizes the need for dialogue and will take into consideration the proposal on the
understanding that the objective of such an initiative will be to ensure the
participation of indigenous peoples and that the final outcome will be full
compliance of the Bank’s policies, guidelines and activities with the provisions of
the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
62. The Permanent Forum calls upon the World Bank to include the rights of
indigenous peoples in its knowledge and learning activities for staff and
management. Instruments for learning, such as the Nordic Trust Fund, should
include training on how operational policies in place regarding the rights of
indigenous peoples should be fully implemented.
63. The Permanent Forum appreciates the steps taken by the African Development
Bank to include safeguards for indigenous peoples in its integrated safeguards
system. The Forum is concerned, however, that the Bank remains the only
multilateral bank not to have a stand-alone safeguard policy for indigenous peoples.
The Forum recommends that the Bank fast-track, in coordination with the African
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other regional bodies, a regional
policy framework for indigenous peoples in line with the provisions of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and report on progress to the Forum at its
thirteenth session, in 2014. The Forum further recommends that the Bank develop a
mechanism specifically to support the entrepreneurship activities of indigenous
peoples.
64. The Permanent Forum urges the Asian Development Bank, in projects that it
funds, to ensure that it avoids adverse impacts on indigenous peoples and their
watersheds and other fragile ecosystems and to promote the rights of indigenous
peoples to land and resources.
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