NGOs Cease Talks with ADB on Crucial Environmental and Social Issues

NEWS RELEASE February 8, 2007

Contact Persons: Hemantha Withanage / Romil Hernandez

NGOs Cease Talks with ADB on Crucial Environmental and Social Issues

8 February, Manila – Non-governmental organizations from different parts of the world have halted their on-going consultative talks with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) over the latter’s egregiously prepared consultation paper on its environment, involuntary resettlement and Indigenous peoples policies.

The NGO Forum on ADB is asking the institution to stop its public consultations and revise the draft document known as the Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS) released in October 2007 because the SPS is an “unacceptable and unsuitable basis for public review and consultation.” The coalition of civil society organizations from Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States urged ADB to resume public consultations only after it has issued a re-written SPS that no longer promotes “weak protective measures” for the environment and people affected by its operations.

FULL STORY

Ensure Genuine Safeguards Consultation, ADB Told

24 October 2007, Manila - NGO Forum on ADB calls for a genuine Safeguards Consultation. In a letter submitted by the Asian-led network to ADB's Safeguard Policy Update Team, Forum cited the bad experience of the network with the consultation processes of the Energy Strategy and the Long Term Strategy Framework (LTSF) due to initial agreements made that were not respected by the Bank.

Read Forum's letter dated 25 October 2007
Read Forum's letter dated 24 October 2007
Read Consultation Draft on Safeguard Policy Statement, October 2007