Water

Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. 21 of 74 BACK | NEXT Home Page of Dams and Development Foreword I. Why an e-paper on dams and development? II. Assessing options III. Participatory processes Levels of participation How to identify the stakeholders Assessing social impacts Prior informed consent What do ADB policies and strategies say? IV. Social impacts V. Environmental impacts VI. Benefit distribution VII. Dam safety and sustainability VIII. Existing projects IX. Improving governance X. What other organizations say XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

What does 'prior informed consent' mean in practice?

The principle of 'prior informed consent (PIC)' was one of the most controversial aspects of the World Commission on Dams Report and many different interpretations have been drawn from it. The term 'consent' does not signify a 'veto' power, but part of a process that is ultimately decided by government.

Further information on PIC from organizations that acknowledge the rights of vulnerable groups include the International Labour Organisation of the United Nations, codification of the principle in the laws of the Philippines and an example of PIC being put into practice by the Candian utility, Hydro Quebec.

The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (UNHCHR) has a web page dedicated to Indigenous Peoples and reports on the progress of both the International Decade for Indigenous People (1995-2004) and progress on the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

ADB has adopted a principle of participation for large dam projects that can be characterized as prior informed consultation - see revised para 32 of ADB's Water Policy.

The following sections link to what WCD and others have said about indigenous peoples and PIC:

1. International Labour Organisation and Indigenous Peoples
2. WCD approach to prior informed consent
3. InterAmerican Development Bank and Indigenous Peoples
4. Extractive Industries Review recommendation on PIC
5. Examples of national laws and negotiated agreements

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