Land grabbing and human rights: Debate 1 February, Amsterdam

On 1 February 2014, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam Novib and ASN Bank organize a debate at De Balie in Amsterdam about land grabbing and human rights as part of the Human Rights Weekend.

The rise of land grabbing has led to increased human rights violations and destroyed livelihoods. Across Africa, Latin America and Asia, hundreds of cases have emerged detailing how investors have unfairly acquired land in the name of economic development.

But in the last 2 years, after a lot of public debate and campaigning, a range of policy commitments have been made by companies and governments to help stamp out this damaging practice. The big question is whether all these policy commitments are on target to achieve real change on the ground. This debate will bring together perspectives from activists, government and the private sector to look at what land grabbing is, and how good intentions can turn into positive action.

This debate will bring together perspectives from Iain Levine (Deputy Executive Director of Human Rights Watch), Farah Karimi (Director of Oxfam Novib), Frits van der Wal (Senior policy advisor food security and focal point land governance at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Jan Burger (Coca-Cola) to look at what land grabbing is, and how good intentions can turn into positive action. Moderator Hansje van der Zwaan-Plagman (Senior advisor sustainability at ASN Bank). Program in collaboration withOxfam Novib and ASN Bank.