Protecting and Supporting Indigenous Peoples in Latin America: Evaluating the Recent World Bank and IDB Policy Initiatives
Issue Date
2006Author
Head, John W.
Publisher
Michigan State University College of Law
Type
Article
Article Version
Scholarly/refereed, publisher version
Version
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1831903
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In this article, John Head draws on his experience with international financial institutions to offer both descriptive and prescriptive observations about the recent legal initiatives taken by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank ("IDB") on issues related to the interests of indigenous peoples, particularly in Latin America. He focuses on three questions: Are those recent initiatives helpful? Are they legal? And are they enough? In addressing those three questions—which he answers yes, yes, and no, respectively—Mr. Head explains (1) why, as a practical matter, it is vitally important that the World Bank and the IDB contribute to the multilateral efforts to protect and assist indigenous peoples in Latin America, (2) why, as a legal matter, he dismisses criticisms raised by some commentators alleging that involvement by international financial institutions in such issues constitutes unlawful "mission creep" or tramples on the sovereignty of their member states, and (3) why, in looking to the future, the most appropriate way to assure that the international development finance institutions continue contributing to the well-being of indigenous peoples is by updating the charters of those institutions.
Collections
Citation
John W. Head, Protecting and Supporting Indigenous Peoples in Latin America: Evaluating the Recent World Bank and IDB Policy Initiatives, 14 Michigan State Journal of International Law 383-438 (2006).
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.