• © 2012 Human Rights Watch
    Letter to World Bank Vice President for Africa On Rwanda

    I am writing to urge the World Bank to review its programing in Rwanda in light of detailed evidence of human rights abuses by the Rwandan government and the Rwandan military’s support for armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) responsible for serious human rights violations.

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World Bank, IMF

  • Joint Letter and Submission to President Kim Re. World Bank Safeguards Review
    Dec 20, 2012

    Given the fundamental importance of safeguards in helping countries develop in a sustainable manner, we believe that the Safeguards review provides a critical opportunity to strengthen the Bank’s development model. The Bank should strive to be a standard-setter among development institutions, and this review provides an opportunity to lead a race to the top in establishing strong and effective safeguards.

  • World Bank: Uphold Rights
    Nov 15, 2012
    The World Bank should incorporate human rights in its revised policies as a key component of fulfilling its mission to eradicate poverty. A new review of the World Bank’s environmental and social policies, known as the “safeguard” policies, begins with a consultation meeting in Washington, DC on November 15, 2012.
  • Joint Letter to President Kim: World Bank Group Should Commit to Human Rights
    Nov 8, 2012

    We write to congratulate you on your appointment as president of the World Bank Group (WBG). In this position, you have the opportunity to provide global leadership in the pursuit of poverty eradication and sustainable development. We were pleased to hear in your recent remarks to the United Nations that restoring the World Bank’s role in the international system is a priority for your future work. To achieve this goal, it will be essential to ensure that the WBG fully upholds human rights and acts consistently with international human rights law.

  • World Bank Support for “Development” by Force
    Oct 11, 2012
    Ethiopia remains in much need of development aid, particularly in the areas of food security, health, and education. But donors need to hold true to their own policies to ensure that they don’t fund harmful projects, directly or indirectly.
  • Recommendations for the Asian Development Bank in Drafting Re-engagement Strategy for Burma
    Oct 7, 2012
    As the ADB re-engages in Burma, it has a rare opportunity to shape the development agenda by pressing for enhanced transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. Experience has shown that if these reforms do not take place early in a transition, they are much more difficult to achieve later on. The ADB should ensure the right sequence, priorities, and safeguards for its programs in Burma.
  • Joint Comment on the Reporting Requirements on Responsible Investment in Burma
    Oct 3, 2012
    The undersigned United States and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are pleased to submit a public comment regarding the “Reporting Requirements on Responsible Investment in Burma.” Many of our organizations have expressed concerns about the scope and timing of the US government decision to permit new investment in Burma and argued for stronger requirements to be imposed on American companies in view of serious, ongoing human rights and corruption concerns. We nevertheless support the reporting requirements as a valuable–if incomplete and imperfect–means to help advance human rights and political reform, consistent with the US government’s longstanding foreign policy priorities in Burma.
  • Public Comment on the US Reporting Requirements for Investment in Burma
    Oct 3, 2012

    Human Rights Watch welcomes the opportunity to comment on the “Reporting Requirements on Responsible Investment in Burma.” This submission supplements a joint comment by United States and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and a coalition comment by the International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR), which Human Rights Watch also endorses.

  • Letter to the World Bank Group Regarding Re-engagement with Burma
    Oct 3, 2012
    We write to you to share our recommendations for the World Bank Group as it re-engages with Burma. The Group has a rare opportunity to shape the development agenda in Burma by pressing for enhanced transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights through the re-engagement process. Experience elsewhere has shown that if these reforms do not take place early in a transition, they are much more difficult to achieve later on. The Group should ensure the proper sequencing, priorities, and safeguards for its programs in Burma.
  • Ethiopia: Business as Usual
    Oct 3, 2012
    Despite Meles' passing, Ethiopia is continuing to conduct repressive policies, and international donors are continuing to ignore them.
  • Letter to EBRD President Re. Country Assessment and Operational Priorities for Egypt
    Sep 18, 2012

    The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, and Human Rights Watch urges the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to ensure that the EBRD’s upcoming process of creating a country assessment and operational priorities for Egypt will provide a full and accurate assessment of the Egyptian government’s commitment to and application of the principles articulated in Article 1 of the EBRD's founding agreement. We strongly recommend that you articulate concrete reform steps in this country assessment, underlining the steps the Egyptian government needs to take to work toward the Article 1 principles, and make clear the EBRD’s level of engagement will depend on the level of progress in these areas.

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