Indigenous Peoples Policy (OD 4.20 - OB/BP 4.10)

Projects and programme interventions of multilateral development banks have a record of systematic and widespread human rights violations for indigenous peoples in Asia. In many countries, indigenous peoples have been subjected to widespread displacement and irreversible loss of traditional livelihoods. Behind these human rights violations is the denial of indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands, territories and resources and to their right to give their free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) to projects and programme interventions, including those in the name of sustainable development and human development. Among them, the large infrastructure (dams and highway construction) and environmental “conservation” projects have had the most detrimental adverse impacts on indigenous peoples. There are a good number of examples of such projects that have negatively impacted indigenous peoples’ communities in Asian countries, some of which follow below.

This highly critical paper finds that despite the World Bank's increased rhetoric about indigenous peoples' participation in its programmes and a growing number of consultations about its policies, participation is still limited.

This briefing aims to:

• Outline the safeguard provisions of the World Bank's existing Indigenous Peoples Policy (OD4.20)
• Provide a background to the World Bank's revision of its Indigenous Peoples Policy
• Highlight the substative concerns of indigenous peoples regarding the March 2001 draft revised policy (Draft OP/BP4.10) and their criticisms of the revision process.