Iraqi Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are actively trying to hold their central and provincial institutions accountable. Like their local counterparts who continue to plan public protests against government corruption, some local CSOs are focusing more of their civic efforts on the development work of the World Bank (WBG or Bank) in Iraq. Five local CSOs from …
Press statement from Earth Rights International: Plaintiffs plan to appeal decision that IFC has “absolute immunity” A federal district court in Washington, D.C., ruled last week that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private lending arm of the World Bank Group, has absolute immunity and thus cannot be sued in the United States. Fishing communities …
Beginning in 2011, much like other Arab Spring countries, Yemen had to face months of mass, oftentimes violent, protests that called for the toppling of Ali Abdallah Salah’s regime. In an attempt to stop the sliding of the country into further chaos, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) brokered an initiative to establish a caretaker government …
Lagos, Nigeria / Phase 3 Safeguards Review Submission On February 22-24th 2016, the World Bank held a consultation on its safeguard policies with representatives of the US government and civil society. The discussion covered important issues in the ongoing review of the Bank’s environmental and social safeguards, including concerns surrounding labor, biodiversity, climate change, vulnerable …
In the weeks following the murder of Berta Cáceres, leader of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organisations of Honduras (Copinh) and leader of the resistance against the Agua Zarca hydroelectric dam on the Gualcarque river, there has been international outcry for justice for Berta and security for her colleagues. The Agua Zarca dam …
Residents of Lagos slums negatively impacted by recent World Bank-financed projects have come together to share their stories and add their voices to the review of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (a.k.a. the Safeguards). This video was submitted to the Safeguards consultation team as part of Phase 3 of the Safeguards Review. Share …
A father walks his children to school in Uganda / Photo credit World Bank On March 15, 2016 the third and final phase of the World Bank Safeguards Review came to a close. Governments and members of civil society from around the world submitted statements and recommendations on the current safeguards draft, and over thirty …
BIC organized a delegation of 9 Latin American SOGIE activists to participate during World Bank Annual Meetings. The delegates met key decision makers both inside and outside of the institution, participated as expert panelist at events during the WB Policy Forum, and a Civil Society Organizations Alternative Event. See our SOGIE page for more information …
Environmental and indigenous rights organizations all over the world reacted with shock and concern over the recent killing of Berta Cáceres, indigenous activist and head of COPINH, the Civic Council of Popular Indigenous Organisations of Honduras. BIC, along with over 50 other organizations, has signed an open letter to the president of Honduras (Spanish|español) …