On the margins of the World Bank Group/IMF Spring Meetings, ten International Financial Institutions (IFIs) including the European Investment Bank (EIB) reaffirmed their commitment to preventing sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation, both within their own institutions and in their operations. The meeting was called by the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag and the British Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt.

On the margins of the World Bank Group/IMF Spring Meetings, ten International Financial Institutions (IFIs) including the EIB reaffirmed their commitment to preventing sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation, both within their own institutions and in their operations. The meeting was called by the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag and the British Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt.

Representing the EU Bank, EIB Vice-President McDowell said: "The statement we have published today represents a public commitment by the world’s leading financial institutions to shine a light on the key issue of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse and to make sure that we all foster a culture of respect both in our own institutions and in our activities worldwide".

"Crucially our commitment also encourages cooperation between us: in sharing good practice and to work towards an alignment of our standards and consistency in their implementation", he added.

Along with the EIB, the other nine International Financial Institutions (IFIs) are: the Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, International Fund for Agriculture and Development, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank.