HRW lashes out at World Bank for neglecting human rights in funding decisions

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) reportedly said that the World Bank lacks adequate checks to guard against funding human rights abuse.

HRW research, 'Abuse-Free Development: How the World Bank Should Safeguard Against Human Rights Violations, has revealed the harm caused to some of the world's most vulnerable people by bank-financed programs.

HRW said that the World Bank's recently adopted goals to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity are inextricably linked to the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food, water, and housing.

However, the bank cannot meaningfully achieve these goals in complex environments without ensuring that it respects the rights of the people it is working to benefit.

HRW has claimed that the World Bank's safeguard policies are insufficient to ensure that human rights are respected in its projects.

Hence, it should ensure that it does not exacerbate or contribute to human rights violations through its lending or other activities.

HRW has found out that the funding decisions, relating to rights, lack transparency and appear arbitrary and inconsistent.

Moreover, reducing human rights risks also can help to mitigate legal and financial risks, and potential harm to the bank's reputation.

HRW has also urged the World Bank to improve the human rights standards it sets for itself, to meet its legal obligations and to remain a leading development institution.