NGOs and experts file brief opposing immunity of international organisations in case over damage from plant financed by Intl. Finance Corp. in India
"Experts Call on Supreme Court to Reverse Decision Protecting IFC's Absolute Immunity", 2 August 2018
On Tuesday, nine NGOs and experts filed an amicus brief before the US Supreme Court in support of the Indian fishing communities and farmers who are challenging the International Finance Corporation (IFC)'s claim to absolute immunity in Jam v. IFC. The amici call for the Supreme Court to reverse the lower court's decision, arguing that the decision to uphold the IFC's immunity undermines its mission and its accountability system...In support of the communities, NGOs and experts stress that absolute immunity not only infringes on the right to remedy, it also undermines the IFC's ability to carry out its own objectives. Providing redress to communities harmed by IFC projects is critical to the mission of the IFC to reduce poverty and support development that does not harm the people or environment. The IFC claims losing immunity will hurt its business; however, the amici argue that limiting immunity will actually help...The US Government, a group of bipartisan members of Congress, and international law professors have also filed amicus briefs supporting the reversal of the lower court's decision.