3.12.2008 - 03:15pm ET

(CSRwire) Washington, D.C. - March 12, 2008 – International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative on Business and Human Rights (SRSG), Professor John Ruggie of Harvard University, released today a consultation draft of the research paper they commissioned on foreign direct investments and human rights.

This joint study aims to raise awareness of the relationship between the protection of investor rights and the host state's human rights obligations under international agreements. Specifically, it examined what, if any, impact stabilization clauses and similar risk allocation provisions in state contracts with foreign investors have on the host state’s ability to adopt and implement human rights laws and regulations in areas such as labor, non-discrimination, and protection of health and the environment.

The study found that stabilization clauses are sometimes drafted so as to insulate investors from having to implement new environmental and social laws, or to provide investors with an opportunity to be compensated for compliance with such laws. The sample of contracts gathered for this study showed that this was more likely to be the case in the contracts from countries outside OECD than in OECD country contracts.

The consultation draft can be obtained from www.ifc.org/enviropublications.

There will be multistakeholder consultation meetings to discuss the findings and recommendations of the paper. The dates of the meetings will be announced shortly.

About IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. IFC's vision is that poor people have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. In FY07, IFC committed $8.2 billion and mobilized an additional $3.9 billion through loan participations and structured finance for 299 investments in 69 developing countries. IFC also provided advisory services in 97 countries. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

For more information please contact:

Commitment to Transparency: This organization is committed to transparency and stakeholder dialogue and encourages your comments and feedback.

Post a comment below: *Your Comment: *Name: *E-mail (will not be displayed):   Notify me when others add comments to this discussion. Verification String (Six characters shown at left)