Letter of Support: Indigenous Peoples Need Better Protections in Latest Equator Principles Draft

Dear Colleagues,

The Equator Principles Association (EPA) recently released the new draft of the Equator Principles, EP4. Many of you have already seen First Peoples Worldwide's response.

The Equator Principles is the only global framework for banks to assess social and environmental risk for the projects they finance. However, EP4 falls woefully short of protecting and respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples.  The EPA is hosting a number of consultations on the draft text in the upcoming weeks.

First Peoples Worldwide is launching a campaign leading up to the consultations to demonstrate the need for EP4 to take a stronger stand on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. We invite you to join us in the following.

1) Please sign this letter (full text below) to show collective support for a better EP4 that adequately protects the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The letter will be presented by First Peoples Worldwide to the EPA at the consultations in London and Toronto. To add your signature, please add your information to the form here.

2) Here is a link to the social media toolkit, which has all the information you need to spread the word through your networks. Thank you for sharing widely.

3) Please join us for a webinar on July 23 at 10am - 11am EST. The webinar will provide participants with a) an overview of the human rights aspects of EP4 in particular regarding Indigenous Peoples, and b) opportunities for investors to submit feedback and strengthen the EP4.

4) Here is a list of upcoming consultations. First Peoples will be at the in-person consultations in London and Toronto. Let us know if you will be there as well.

In-person in Tokyo | July 12, 2019, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. JST
In-person in London | July 16, 2019, 9:30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. BST
Webinar | July 17, 2019, 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. BST
In-person in Toronto | July 30, 2019, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EDT
Webinar | August 6, 2019, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. BST

Thank you for your work to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide.