"quis castodiet ipsos castodes"  Decimus Junius Juvenal 50-130 A.D.

CONTEXT OF THE  PROPOSED REVISION OF 

THE WORLD BANK

INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT POLICY OD 4.12

The World Bank is requesting public comments on its revised involuntary resettlement policy and associated best practices.  Involuntary resettlement forces the displacement of over 10 million people per year.  The displacements often result in prolonged confrontation and conflict.  Usually, the displaced  are impoverished. 

What are the rights of those who find themselves in the way of development?  And what are the obligations of the owners and financiers of projects that involuntarily uproot people?  The answers to these questions are being hammered out in policies and procedures of financial intermediaries and governments.  The World Bank has long held the leadership role in this policy domain. Its resettlement policy is being incorporated into the policy frameworks of other agencies. Their policies have become international standards, setting the minimal standards  for the social and environmental responsibilities. 

From the perspective of the powerless people who find themselves being pushed aside, these standards are primary human rights documents.  A decision to revise the international standard, therefore, requires the best policy craftsmanship to avoid the perversion of development induced impoverishment 

An earlier version of the draft "conversion" of The Bank's policy was released for public commentary in the Spring of 1998.  The KIOSK posted extensive public comments.   The Bank Group responded to these comments on the WEB.  Since then, at least two new versions were drafted and were held confidential by the Bank staff before the present version was released for comments.   -  t. downing

Comments were scheduled to end on October 31, 1999. HOWEVER, the Kiosk will continue to post comments. The Bank has informed several NGOS that comments may continue to be submitted until 30 November 1999.

INVOLUNTARY RESETTLEMENT KIOSK last updated on October 17, 2003
TO PREPARE	TO ACT
· Read the DRAFT Policies	· Send Comments to post on the Kiosk
· Additional Helpful Information including previous KIOSK commentaries on last version of this draft - Spring 1998	· Contact The World Bank Resettlement Group directly
· Read  Stakeholder comments on the current draft involuntary resettlement policy	· Contact your World Bank Executive Directors
· Review comments on previous drafts of this policy (1998) to identify resolved and pending issues	· View or comment on procedural issues regarding the public commentary on current draft of the policy  · Request for EXTENSION of Deadline and The Bank's response.

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