23 January 2004
In February 2004 the IDB is set to begin consultations of a draft indigenous policy together with an indigenous peoples framework. This is the direct result of pressure from indigenous communities who insist on a strong instrument to protect their rights in the face of an increase in the infrastructure portfolio at the IDB.
January 23, 2004
For more information contact Melina Selverston Scher:
[esta informe en español]
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is set to begin consultations on an indigenous peoples policy at the same time that they consult on a strategic framework for indigenous peoples. The Bank had come under increasing pressure to develop a policy to safeguard the rights of indigenous communities affected by development projects. In particular the Camisea gas project in Peru, which was approved for IDB support by a narrow margin last year, brought international scrutiny on IDB activities in indigenous areas.
Background
Last May the IDB announced that they would carry out consultations around a strategic framework for indigenous peoples. The strategic framework will guide IDB work in the indigenous area for the next 5-10 years. Civil society groups quickly responded that they were not interested in a non-binding and vague framework. Members of the Amazon Alliance sent a letter in May, and participants in the indigenous caucus of the OAS working group on the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples sent a letter in November, both asking for the IDB to urgently begin work on a policy. These interventions encouraged the indigenous peoples unit at the Bank to consider carrying out consultations on the policy at the same time as the strategic framework. In late November 2003, the policy committee at the Bank agreed to this proposal.
The Consultation
The Indigenous Peoples Unit of the IDB expressed their commitment to extensive and transparent consultations. They put together a draft policy proposal in record time and this policy is now before the board awaiting approval for public dissemination. If it is approved, the consultation process on the policy and the strategic framework may begin as early as February 2004. At present the Unit is primarily planning to take advantage of existing Inter-American meetings to hold parallel consultation meetings about the framework and policy. Further consultations may be organized as funding permits. The IDB hopes to approve the new policy by December 2005.
The IDB Context
The IDB is considered one of the least democratic financial institutions in that it doesn't have policies to protect the basic rights of people affected by their development programs. Despite that, it is one of the larges investors in infrastructure projects in the region. There is a resettlement policy (1998) which prohibits the forced resettlement of indigenous communities, and there is an outdated forestry policy (1991) which mentions special considerations for indigenous peoples.