CRIN - Child Rights Information Network
Recognising people as inherent holders of rights - and embracing concepts
of obligation, responsibility and accountability - is central to the emerging
field of human rights-based approaches to development.
The principles of human rights have been internationally established for
more than 50 years as a part of the United Nations mission and mandate.
But considering people as rights-holders dates back much longer, and has
its origins in many social movements around the world.
In 1997 the concept of rights-based approaches received a boost when
Kofi Annan called for human rights to be integrated into the development
work of the United Nations. Since then development organisations have
increasingly taken up ‘rights–based approaches’ (RBA) to their
programming.
UNICEF officially adopted RBA in April 1998 and in 2002 the UN system
adopted a “Common Consensus of Rights Based programming". Several
NGOs, for example Action Aid, CARE, Oxfam and Save the Children, started
incorporating rights based components into their ways of working.
Many see RBA as a natural evolution of development programming – one
that incorporates the concepts and principles of human rights into existing
good practice. In this way it is hoped that value will be added to
development activities by changing the way they are implemented and the
issues they cover.
One definition of RBA is:
“A rights–based approach to development promotes justice, equality and
freedom and tackles the power issues that lie at the root of poverty and
exploitation. To achieve this, a rights–based approach makes use of the
standards, principles and methods of human rights, social activism and
development”. (Joaquim Theis, Rights–based Programming – an Evolving
Approach, Save the Children SEAP)
The key commonly agreed elements of a rights-based approach are that it:
Establishes obligation, responsibility and accountability as factors in
human development.
Requires duty–bearers (those with obligation or responsibility) to meet
any justifiable claims made upon them by rights-holders.
Highlights the importance of the process of development, as well as its
impact.
Draws on the legitimacy of international consensus.
Given the variety of development actors and agencies – and their various
influences - there is no single “approach” to incorporating rights into
programming, even though they all draw on the above principles. Even
within the same organisation, there will often be variations in approach
depending on context. See Different Approaches to Rights–Based
Programming.
Starting points:
A number of development agencies have produced accessible overviews
about RBA. However, it should be noted that these are invariably written
within an institutional framework and tailored to the internal needs and
processes of the agency, rather than a broader external environment.
Promoting Rights-Based Approaches: Experiences and Ideas from Asia and the Pacific, Chapter 1, Joachim Theis
UNDP’s RBA Primer
Save the Children UK’s Introduction to CRP
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