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24 Jan 2018

BankTrack paper explores responsibilities of banks allegedly contributing to human rights violations through finance

In this briefing paper, BankTrack examines whether private sector banks may have contributed to adverse human rights impacts through their provision of finance. The paper explores eight cases of human rights abuses and the relationship and responsibilities of the banks providing financing to the projects. These cases include:

  • Dakota Access Pipeline, United States. See here for responses received from banks to a statement by Rainforest Action Network (RAN) questioning banks' financing of the Dakota Access Pipeline given the human rights concerns. Responses received from Wells Fargo, Mizuho, TD Bank & Citigroup to the RAN statement.
  •  Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project, Canada
      • We invited TD Bank and Royal Bank of Canada to respond; responses provided below
  • Agua Zarca hydroelectic project, Honduras. See here for more information about this case, including an earlier response from Desarrollos Energéticos (DESA) and the announcement that FMO and Finnfund finalized their exit from the project in July 2017.
  • Phnom Penh Sugar, Cambodia
      • We invited ANZ Bank to respond; response provided below
      • See here for an earlier story about this case.
  • Drummond and paramilitary violence, Colombia
      • We invited BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Drummond, HSBC, Mizuho Financial & Wells Fargo to respond; responses provided below
      • We invited Bank of America & BBVA to respond; they did not respond
      • See here for an earlier related story.
  • Finance for cluster munitions, International
      • We invited BPCE Group, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley & Wells Fargo to respond; responses provided below
      • We invited  Bank of America, Bank of China, Hanwha, Mitsubishi UFJ, Norinco, Orbital ATK, Poongsan & Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group to respond; they did not respond
      • We invited Goldman Sachs & JPMorgan Chase to respond; they declined to respond
      • China Aerospace Science and Industry could not be reached
  • Bank support for illegal settlements, Palestinian territories. See here for more information about Human Rights Watch's report calling on Israeli banks to cease activities in settlements, including a response from AXA. Israeli banks contacted by the Resource Centre for comment did not respond.
  • Secret loans scandel, Mozambique
      • We invited Credit Suisse to respond; response provided below
      • We invited VTB Bank to respond; it did not respond

[also refers to Energy Transfer Partners, Kinder Morgan, Phnom Penh Sugar & Textron]

Company Responses

Credit Suisse View Response
Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank) View Response
Royal Bank of Canada View Response
Bank of America

No Response

BBVA

No Response

Bank of China

No Response

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

No Response

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

No Response

ANZ Bank View Response
Hanwha Group

No Response

China North Industries (NORINCO)

No Response

BNP Paribas View Response
Orbital ATK

No Response

Poongsan

No Response

VTB Bank

No Response

Citigroup View Response
Mizuho Financial Group View Response
Drummond View Response
Natixis View Response
Morgan Stanley View Response
Wells Fargo View Response
Goldman Sachs

No Response

JPMorgan Chase

No Response

Timeline