New report assesses human rights in the context of development finance

Eleven human rights organizations, including ESCR-Net members Accountability Counsel, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHR&GJ), and Inclusive Development International (IDI), have recently launched their joint publication “Glass Half Full? The State of Accountability in Development Finance”.

A key argument of the report is that development finance should promote a development model based on respect for human rights. In order to do so, Development Finance Institutions (DFI) must ensure access to adequate remedy for people who have experienced human rights violations as a result of bank-financed development activities.

One of the main conclusions of the report is that the Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) administered by DFIs, and corporate accountability in general, can be viewed from a glass half full/glass half empty perspective. While the implementation of complaints mechanisms constitutes an advance, outcomes rarely provide adequate remedy for those affected by violations. As such, the co-authors urge DFIs to abandon development projects that lead to dispossession, environmental degradation and the plundering of natural resources.

The report can be downloaded, in English, here.