A/71/302 human rights language into its development cooperation policies, aiming to adopt a rights-based approach in its cooperation policy and supporting the implementation of the human rights to water and sanitation. 37 44. Unfortunately, many funders still refrain from placing human rights a t the core of their policies or from explicitly recognizing the human right s to water and sanitation in their policies. In such countries, practical experience in translating the human rights to water and sanitation into project implementation still seems limited. 45. A review of the development cooperation policies of major multilateral funders in the sector reveals a mixed panorama regarding the consolidation of the human rights to water and sanitation similar to the policies of funding States. Some major funders, such as the Inter-American Development Bank 38 and UNICEF (see E/ICEF/2006/6), have issued specific policy documents in which the human right s to water and sanitation have been recognized. For other funders, including the European Union, the general policy framework may reflect a clear concern for guaranteeing human rights through all development cooperation projects. The European Union has committed itself to using a human rights-based approach to ensure that efforts are strengthened to assist partner countries in implementing their international human rights obligations. 39 46. Conversely, other major multilateral funders do not incorporate human rights into their policy frameworks, sometimes intentionally. The most remarkable such case concerns the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association, which form part of the World Bank Group, as thoroughly discussed in 2015 by the Special Rapporteur on ext reme poverty and human rights (A/70/274). Notwithstanding references in policy analyses and public relations statements to the importance of the human rights framework, which in any case are non-committal, the World Bank has controversially abstained from including human rights-related criteria in its operational policies, except with respect to the rights of indigenous peoples. Several official World Bank statements have expressed the view that human rights are matters of political concern that, in accordance with the institution’s articles of agreement, cannot be considered as criteria for the disbursement of funds. The recently established multilateral development banks, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank, include nearly identical terms in their articles of agreement. 40 47. It is notable that some important multilateral funders, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, view water as a socially vital econ omic good 41 and aspire to similar goals of creating inclusive economic growth and __________________ 37 38 39 40 41 16-13590 Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, submission to the Special Rapporteur, 2016. See Inter-American Development Bank, “Access to water and sanitation for all and the right to water in the American region”, Policy Paper, November 2011. Council of the European Union, “EU strategic framework and action plan on human rights and democracy”, 25 June 2012. See New Development Bank, Articles of Agreement, annex, art. 13(e), available from http://ndbbrics.org/agreement.html. See also Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Articles of Agreement, art. 31(2), available from www.aiib.org/uploadfile/2015/0814/20150814022158430.pdf. See Asian Development Bank, “Water for all: the water policy of the Asian Development Bank ”, June 2003. 15/24