The World Bank's inspection panel was established in 1992, after the
mass mobilisation of people against World Bank-funded dam projects in
India, especially Narmada valley dams. Because the Bank enjoys
immunity under the Geneva Convention, neither the people nor the
country can sue it for the violation of rights or any crime. Due to
growing public voices against the Bank’s projects and the lack of an
accountability mechanism, its board of directors established what is
supposed be an independent panel to look at the impact of projects.
In theory, the panel is independent from the Bank’s management and is
responsible to the Bank’s executive directors.