A Human Rights Approach to Development: Primer for Development Practitioners

Summary: This document aims to concisely present the
human rights approach in simple terms, for
introductory purposes. It emphasises that the
human rights approach does not discard
previous development approaches, but builds
on them.

This document – prepared for a training course organised by UNDP Nepal
in August 2003 – aims to concisely present the human rights approach in
simple terms, for introductory purposes. The document emphasises that
the human rights approach does not discard previous development
approaches, but builds on them.

It opens by outlining the basics of human rights, and explaining their role
in social relationships. The document goes on to define a human rights
approach to development, and explains the rationale for using such an
approach, focusing in particular on the problems of “capture” of economic
and political benefits by the better–off, and growing violent conflicts.

The final section describes how a human rights approach can be applied to
development programmes, integrating principles and standards into all
stages of the programming process. The author explains how key guiding
principles – participation, accountability, non–discrimination,
empowerment, and linkages to standards – are required to ensure an
adequate development process.
Owner: Amparo Tomas pdf: www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/hrbap/RBA_training_UNDP_primer.doc

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