20th April 2026
On 7th April 2026, Alex Haines appeared before all seven judges of the World Bank Group (“WBG”) Administrative Tribunal (“WBAT”) on behalf of the Applicant client. The case – filed in 2022 – was brought on the basis that the effect of an internal WBG Staff Rule is indirectly discriminatory on grounds of sex and adversely affects women international civil servants of a certain category grade. The principle of indirect sex discrimination – which is established in several jurisdictions – has not yet been developed in International Administrative Law which is the applicable law to International Organisations including the WBG. Alex led Carin Hunt of Outer Temple Chambers against the Respondent, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“IBRD”) which was represented by the WBG’s Legal Vice Presidency. Judgment is expected later this Summer.
The World Bank Group
The WBG is an international organisation comprised of five institutions: (i) the IBRD; (ii) the International Development Association (“IDA”); (iii) the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”); (iv) the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”); and (v) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (“MIGA”).
The World Bank Administrative Tribunal
The WBAT was established by the Board of Governors of the Bank in 1980. The WBAT is the independent judicial forum of last resort for the resolution of cases submitted by members of the staff of the WBG alleging non-observance of their contracts of employment or terms of appointment. The current WBAT judges are nationals of the following WBG member states: US, Liberia, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Philippines, and France. The WBAT’s decisions are final and binding.
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