The World Bank and human rights 2015, para. 35

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From its creation in 1944, the Bank has sought to present itself as a functional, technical agency and hence one that is above the political fray. That was deemed essential to avoid the appearance of choosing sides in the aftermath of the Second World War and subsequently in the fraught climate of the cold war. That technocratic image is mirrored in the internal culture of the Bank, which is dominated by economists. That in turn affects how institutional goals are shaped and justifications framed. To become relevant, human rights factors need to be presented in terms of economic impact, rather than as matters of values, law, or dignity. Just as human rights proponents are uncomfortable with the consequentialism of economics, economists often perceive rights as being rigid, anti-market and overly State-centric. The concern is that the engagement of the Bank with human rights would bring about a radical paradigm shift with unknown consequences.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights
Document type
Special Procedures' report
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
  • Economic Rights
  • Governance & Rule of Law
Person(s) affected
  • N.A.
Year
2015
Paragraph type
Other
Paragraph number
35