News

Global Unions and the NGO Forums highlighted the cases of violations human rights and non-compliances of international standards in various projects funded by the bank in the region at the annual meeting of the Independent Accountability Mechanism (IAM) of the ADB held on 6th September 2016 in ADB HQ in Manila, Philippines.

ADB had extended invitations for all the other regional IFI’s, from Americas and Europe and the World Banks Inspection Panel officials to the 13th IAM meeting held in Manila. Speakers representing the CSO groups across the regions highlighted deficiencies in the accountability mechanism where gross violations and non-compliances have been reported.

Jayasri Priyalal, Regional Director for UNI Apro Finance spoke at the panel representing the trade unions and insisted that IFI to commit to the UN Guiding Principles of Human and Business Rights as role models as all member countries in UN has endorsed the principles unanimously. Accordingly the IFI’s should uphold the principle of remedying the victims in case of violations appropriately under the various accountability mechanisms; avoiding affected communities to live in helpless and hopeless situations. He suggested that the companies who derive commercial benefits from development projects should be held accountable to compensate the affected parties through getting contractors to execute Performance Bonds while awarding the contracts under various projects funded by IFI’s.

Priyalal stressed the importance of getting DMC to comply with the International Labour Standards (ILS) in projects funded by IFI’s as claimed by the global unions and civil society groups. He suggested that this is the best way to ensure inclusive growth, and narrow the growing income inequality stalling the economic growth. 

PSI, UNI and NGO Forum on ADB and group of multinational CSO joined the meeting with IFI accountability officials at the meeting which was officiated by the ADB President Takehiko Nakao.