[Aidwatch] Invite to Aid & Accountability Event, Melbourne

[AID/WATCH E-Bulletin]

 *Invite to Aid & Accountability Event, Melbourne*

Dear Supporter

Chair of AID/WATCH, Matthew Hilton will be talking at the following event
in Melbourne next Monday.
Please come along (invite friends on
facebook:https://www.facebook.com/events/290290781034223/
)

*
*

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

* *

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

* *

*Date:*    Monday, 13 February 2012
*Time:*    12:30pm to 2:00pm
             (Refreshments and finger food to be provided after the event
from 2:00pm to 2:30pm)
*Venue:*  Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
*RSVP:*   castan.centre at monash.edu or tel. 9905 3327

* *

*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.


We'll be releasing a paper with our own analysis on the Cambodian Railways
project and how this relates to broader issues with the Australian aid
project later in the week. So keep an eye on your inboxes (and letterboxes
if you're a member).


See you there!

*AID/WATCH*
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