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Responses
In 2007, ADB continued its review of three safeguard policies, which are environment, involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples. The review process is meant to ensure “the sustainability of project outcomes by protecting the environment and people from potential adverse impacts of projects”. The policy update will provide greater harmonization with safeguard practices across multilateral financial institutions and tailor safeguard approaches to different clients. The safeguard policy update process, particularly in relation to the concerns of indigenous peoples, had involved and will continue to involve broad stakeholders’ consultations with indigenous peoples’ organizations and project-affected indigenous peoples. The safeguard policy update process will also derive information and recommendations from discussions with stakeholders in the course of ADB operational missions. In November 2007, a major consultation of indigenous peoples organizations was conducted in Manila, attended by representatives of various indigenous peoples’ organizations from six Asian countries, including the chairperson of the Permanent Forum, to seek their recommendations on the consultation draft safeguard policy statement. The recently approved United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was presented during the consultation and will be used as reference for the series of consultations.
