On behalf of INDR, Theodore (Ted) Downing helped prepared an overview of human rights issues to be considered in the revision of the International Finance Corporation's Performance Standard on Involuntary Resettlement and Land Acquistion (PS5).  INDR joined with the International Accountabiity Project (Jennifer Kalafut) and the Housing and Land Rights Network (Shivani Chaudhry) to prepare a brief on key Issues for Upholding Housing Land and Property Rights in the International Finance Corporation’s Review of Environmental and Social Policy Standards (Jan 2010).  Their findings highlighted 1) minimizing displacement and ensuring that displaced persons are project beneficiaries, 2) inclusion of individuals and communities who lose their livelihoods because of polluted fisheries, diminished water supplies, air pollution and other project impacts who face the full gamut of potential human rights violations and risks associated with unmitigated displacement, 3) inclusion of full risk assessment and livelihood restoration measures,  4)  ensurance that there are specific requirements for providing information and training about rights and processes options (including IFC policies and accountability mechanisms) by a third party prior to negotiations to help balance the bargaining power, and 5) strengthening of free, prior and informed consent in compliance with other international standards.

NEW DELHI

Monday, 22 Feb 2010

India plans to raise the compensation for people displaced by large mining projects, the federal mines minister said on Monday, in a move that could soothe opposition to leases but will raise costs.  The government will introduce a new bill...

After considerable debate with NGOs and some members of the INDR, the Asian Development Bank's Board approved  of its revised Safeguard Policy Statement, which includes the first revision of its involuntary resettlement policies since internal and external reviews found them woefully incapable of avoiding development-induced impoverishment.  Earlier on, Ted Downing and Thayer Scudder had asked the Board to revise their policy in light of the research and previous Bank findings on involuntary displacement. See the revised policy and prepare to share your comments with the INDR group.
 

Germany, Austria and Switzerland have withdrawn their export credit guarantees for the highly controversial Ilisu dam project in Turkey.

Edited:  Anthony Oliver-Smith 

Featuring many INDR authors:  Michael Cernea, Dana Clark, Theodore Downing, Carmen Garcia-Downing, Barbara Rose Johnston, Dolores Koenig, Thayer Scudder