Review and Update of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies Phase 3 Feedback Summary Date: February 2, 2016 Location (City, Country): Tokyo, Japan Audience: multi-stakeholders (NGOs, development partners, business and academia) ESF Issue Items Feedback Vision Human Rights Approach to human rights in The ESF should clarify that the borrower must respect international the ESF human rights law. In many cases, the government itself is the actor which violates human rights, such as suppression of freedom of expression and forced eviction. In many countries, national laws for human rights are not enforced. The Bank should make a commitment to respect human rights, rather than simply characterize human rights as aspirational. ESP/ Non-discrimination Explicit listing of specific While the formulation of disabilities in the ESF Definition of disabilities: ESS1 and vulnerable vulnerable groups by is mental or other the alternative is simply “physical, disabilities”, groups type/name (age, gender, The definition under UN Convention on the Rights of “disabilities”. ethnicity, religion, physical, Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is with disabilities include “persons mental or other disability, those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory social, civic or health status, impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their sexual orientation, gender full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” identity, economic Accessibility: The Bank should develop a detailed guideline on disadvantages or indigenous accessibility to make sure that Borrowers comply with the principle of status, and/or dependence on accessibility, including physical infrastructure and information such as unique natural resources) website. Specific aspects of the The Stakeholder engagement with persons with disabilities: principle in involvement of persons with disabilities in Bank projects should not be complex social and political limited to should participate in the project being “beneficiaries”. They contexts, including where design, monitoring and evaluation. The Bank should offer learning and recognition of certain groups training events for borrowers on disabilities. is not in accordance with Reasonable accommodation and disabilities: Regarding stakeholder national law engagement and employment of persons with disabilities, “reasonable
Review and Update of the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Policies Phase 3 Feedback Summary Date: February 2, 2016 Location (City, Country): Tokyo, Japan Audience: multi-stakeholders (NGOs, development partners, business and academia) ESF Issue Items Feedback Vision Human Rights Approach to human rights in the ESF The ESF should clarify that the borrower must respect international human rights law. In many cases, the government itself is the actor which violates human rights, such as suppression of freedom of expression and forced eviction. In many countries, national laws for human rights are not enforced. The Bank should make a commitment to respect human rights, rather than simply characterize human rights as aspirational. ESP/ ESS1 Non-discrimination and vulnerable groups Explicit listing of specific vulnerable groups by type/name (age, gender, ethnicity, religion, physical, mental or other disability, social, civic or health status, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic disadvantages or indigenous status, and/or dependence on unique natural resources) Specific aspects of the principle in complex social and political contexts, including where recognition of certain groups is not in accordance with national law Definition of disabilities: While the formulation of disabilities in the ESF is “physical, mental or other disabilities”, the alternative is simply “disabilities”. The definition under UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is “persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” Accessibility: The Bank should develop a detailed guideline on accessibility to make sure that Borrowers comply with the principle of accessibility, including physical infrastructure and information such as website. Stakeholder engagement with persons with disabilities: The involvement of persons with disabilities in Bank projects should not be limited to being “beneficiaries”. They should participate in the project design, monitoring and evaluation. The Bank should offer learning and training events for borrowers on disabilities. Reasonable accommodation and disabilities: Regarding stakeholder engagement and employment of persons with disabilities, “reasonable