Aid and Accountability: Safeguarding Rights in High-Risk Development Projects

Learning from the ADB and AusAID-Funded Rehabilitation of the Cambodian Railway Project

13 February 2012
Held at Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Forum

Audio recording of the forum.  (To listen to this recording using Mediaplayer you will need to download the plug-in)

Presenters

David Pred, Executive Director, Bridges Across Borders Cambodia
Dr. Natalie Bugalski, Human Rights Lawyer, Author of DERAILED report
Eang Vuthy, Development Watch Program Manager, Bridges Across Borders Cambodia

Panellists

Dr. Adam McBeth, Deputy Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Monash University
Jessica Rosien, Advocacy Coordinator, Oxfam Australia
Matthew Hilton, Chair, Aid/Watch

Moderator

James Ensor, Policy Director, Oxfam Australia

On February 13th, Bridges Across Borders Cambodia (BABC) will present the findings of its forthcoming report, DERAILED, A Study on the Resettlement Impacts of the Rehabilitation of the Cambodian Railway.  The Project, predominantly financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and AusAID, is restoring Cambodia's 650 kilometres of railway infrastructure.  A joint venture of the Australian firm Toll Holdings and the Cambodian firm Royal Group had secured a 30-year concession to operate the refurbished railways.  More than 4000 families living near the railway lines stand to be affected by the Project.  The report assesses the extent to which the Project's resettlement component has complied with international human rights law obligations and the ADB Policy on Involuntary Resettlement.

A presentation of the report findings will be followed by a panel discussion on resettlement rights, risks and safeguards in relation to infrastructure aid projects:

• Why are safeguard policies important for aid projects that cause displacement?
• What does it take to make safeguard policies effective in political and development environments characterized by human rights abuses and accountability deficits?
• What are Australia's extra-territorial human rights obligations with respect to its overseas development assistance?
• What are the take away lessons from the Cambodian Railways Project for AusAID and the ADB?

This event is co-hosted by Oxfam Australia and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.