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Summary: This paper reports on a collaborative research
project into the policy implications for adopting
rights approaches for northern NGOs initiated
in 2001 by the INTRAC NGO Research
Programme Forum.
This paper reports on a collaborative research project into the policy
implications for adopting rights approaches for northern NGOs initiated in
2001 by the INTRAC NGO Research Programme Forum. As well as the main
stakeholders – the fifteen NGOs that comprise INTRAC’s Programme – the
study included much involvement with the wider development community.
The search for implications was limited, largely because most NGOs have
only taken on rights approaches in their policy documents within the last
five years. However the study drew four main conclusions:
· NGOs that have already adopted rights approaches have done
so through a process of evolution
· Many NGOs believe it is not imperative to have an explicit rights
approach to engage in the struggle for the right to development of the
poor
· There are many contradictions within rights approaches,
including a growing body of anecdotal evidence suggesting that rights
approaches can exacerbate poverty in particular instances
· Rights approaches make explicit the political nature of poverty
eradication in an unprecedented an systematic way.
The research indicates, firstly, that NGOs are correct in their concern to
establish appropriate tools and instruments for implementing rights
approaches. Secondly, despite the vehement rejection of questioning
rights approaches, that it precisely what is needed. Indeed, the study
concludes that the more rights approaches are adopted, the more
constructive analysis is necessary.
Owner: Emma Harris–Curtis pdf: www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/hrbap/INTRAC_RBA_NGOs.doc