Strengths and Weaknesses in a Human Rights-Based Approach to International Development: An analysis of a rights-based approach to development assistance based on practical experiences

TY - JOUR

T1 - Strengths and Weaknesses in a Human Rights-Based Approach to International Development

T2 - An analysis of a rights-based approach to development assistance based on practical experiences

AU - Broberg, Morten

AU - Sano, Hans-Otto

PY - 2018/5/28

Y1 - 2018/5/28

N2 - The human rights-based approach to development cooperation has found recent support from both development cooperation actors and non-governmental organisations active in developing countries. We set out to define this approach, how it is applied, and to identify its central agents and principal components. Through examples we show how the approach works in practice, and we identify and discuss three human rights principles that play particularly important roles in its implementation: (i) participation and inclusion, (ii) non-discrimination and equality, and (iii) accountability. We show that in terms of implementation, the approach is related to the processes of empowerment, forms of advocacy, and the use of legal instruments in defence of groups of people who are poor, discriminated against or marginalised. We conclude that a human rights-based approach provides new avenues for providing help to vulnerable groups, but at the same time a poverty-oriented approach must continue to play an important role.

AB - The human rights-based approach to development cooperation has found recent support from both development cooperation actors and non-governmental organisations active in developing countries. We set out to define this approach, how it is applied, and to identify its central agents and principal components. Through examples we show how the approach works in practice, and we identify and discuss three human rights principles that play particularly important roles in its implementation: (i) participation and inclusion, (ii) non-discrimination and equality, and (iii) accountability. We show that in terms of implementation, the approach is related to the processes of empowerment, forms of advocacy, and the use of legal instruments in defence of groups of people who are poor, discriminated against or marginalised. We conclude that a human rights-based approach provides new avenues for providing help to vulnerable groups, but at the same time a poverty-oriented approach must continue to play an important role.

U2 - 10.1080/13642987.2017.1408591

DO - 10.1080/13642987.2017.1408591

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1364-2987

VL - 22

SP - 664

EP - 680

JO - International Journal of Human Rights

JF - International Journal of Human Rights

IS - 5

ER -