Rights-Based
Development
the human rights framework and human rights based
development principles
4 June 2009

Anatomy of a right
DUTY
BEARER
fulfills the responsibility to ….
RIGHT
HOLDER claims the right from…

Definition of human rights
Human rights may be defined as:
universal legal guarantees
that belong to all human beings
and that protect individuals and groups
from actions and omissions
that affect fundamental human dignity.
Source: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

International Bill of Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights - 1948
Civil and Political Rights Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
ICCPR ICESCR
International Covenant on Civil and International Covenant on Economic,
Political Rights Social and Cultural Rights
(1966 since then160 states ratified (1966, since then 157 states ratified
it,) it,)

Other treaties
ICERD International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(1966, 173 states ratified)
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(1979, 186 states ratified)
CAT Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment
(1984, 146 states ratified)
CRC Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989, 193 states ratified)
ICMW International Convention of the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and
Members of their Families (1990, 41 states ratified)
ICRPD International Covenant on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006, 57 states
ratified)
ICPED International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
(2006, not yet in force)

Principles of human rights
1 Inalienability
2 Universality
3 Indivisibility and Interdependence
4 Accountability
5 Participation
6 Internationally guaranteed
7 Human rights go beyond state
sovereignty

Principles in Human Rights Based
Development
• Participation
• Accountability
• Non-discrimination and Equality
• Empowerment
• Link to the human rights framework

Accountability
• Accountability requires governments and other duty-
bearers to show, explain and justify how it has
handled its human rights obligations
• Rights holders are entitled to understand how the
government has dealt with its human rights
obligations
• Rights-holders are entitled to effective remedies to
redress a failure in respecting, protecting and
fulfilling its human rights obligations

The Accountability
Process

Accountability mechanisms
• Political system
• Legal system
• Policy channels
• Administrative channels
• Social channels