Introduction

Summary

All year long, representatives of the member States of international financial institutionssit at the latter’s decision-making bodies to approve projects and programmes aimed at furthering global development. Through the loans thereby made available, dams and oil pipelines are built, public administrations are reformed, general balance of payments support is provided, and programmes for the promotion of basic service delivery, such as health, education or water supply, are implemented. Ultimately, all such undertakings are presumed to nurture the needs of individuals in developing countries.

Reality, however, is sometimes at odds with such a view of a better world, in that institutionalised forms of multilateral development cooperation do not automatically contribute to the promotion of, and respect for, human rights. As has been noted, ‘[m]any activities undertaken in the name of “development” have subsequently been recognized as ill-conceived and even counter-productive in human rights terms’.