BREAKING NEWS!!!!! The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, loses immunities claim in the US Supreme Court, opening the door for more challenges. I smell revolution in the air…END IMMUNITIES!
Read the case for yourself, here’s the Supreme Court decision: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/17-1011_mkhn.pdf
So much admiration, and many thanks to the plaintiffs and their legal team at Earth Rights! I’m just gonna leave this right here…
In a historic 7-1 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court decided today in Jam v. International Finance Corporation (IFC) that international organizations like the World Bank Group can be sued in U.S. courts. The Court’s decision marks a defining moment for the IFC – the arm of the World Bank Group that lends to the private sector. For years, the IFC has operated as if it were “above the law,” at times pursuing reckless lending projects that inflicted serious human rights abuses on local communities, and then leaving the communities to fend for themselves.
“Historic Supreme Court Win: World Bank Group Is Not Above The Law” https://earthrights.org/media/historic-supreme-court-win-world-bank-group-is-not-above-the-law/Historic Supreme Court Win: World Bank Group Is Not Above The Law
An opinion on this win….
Under the Jam v. IFC decision, international organizations like the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank can now be sued in US courts, including in relation to their commercial activities…t provides an incentive for these institutions to work harder to prevent harms in the first place. We hope that this decision serves as a wake-up call for the IFC and other development finance institutions to take a hard look at ensuring that their projects truly benefit communities and properly assess any risks — before those projects are even approved.”
“Supreme Court Rules that the World Bank Group Can be Sued in US Courts In Historic Decision” https://www.ciel.org/news/supreme-court-rules-world-bank-group-immunity-jam-v-ifc/
And this one…
The US Court’s decision marks a defining moment for people across the world and also, directly affected communities demanding an end to immunity of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs)…the World Bank and other IFIs have everywhere operated under the garb of immunity to protect itself from democratic scrutiny while their dubious lending have imperiled the lives of millions.
“The US Supreme Court Judgment: A Challenge to World Bank’s unfettered immunity” http://www.cadtm.org/The-US-Supreme-Court-Judgment-A-Challenge-to-World-Bank-s-unfettered-immunity
Also this…Respect! Ms. Ismet Zerin Khan
The World Bank’s immunities were recently [2010] successfully challenged in Bangladesh by Ms. Ismet Zerin Khan, a former World Bank external affairs officer who alleged that she was illegitimately terminated in 2001.
“World Bank’s Immunities Challenged in Bangladesh” https://www.whistleblower.org/international/world-banks-immunities-challenged-in-bangladesh/
Colour in International Development 