Frequently Asked Questions on Human Rights-Based Approach

6. Monitoring. A human rights-based approach to developmentsupports the monitoring of State commitments with the help ofrecommendations of human rights treaty bodies, and throughpublic and independent assessments of State performance.7. Sustained results. A human rights-based approach leads tobetter sustained results of development efforts and greaterreturns on investments by: Building the capacity of prime actors to engage indialogue, meet their own responsibilities and holdthe State accountable; Strengthening social cohesion through seeking consensuswith participatory processes, and focusingassistance on the excluded and most marginalized; Codifying social and political consensus on accountabilitiesfor results into laws, policies and programmesaligned with international conventions; Anchoring human rights entitlements within a frameworkof laws and institutions;Institutionalizing democratic processes; andStrengthening the capacities of individuals and institutionsto carry out their obligations as expressedin local, national and international laws, policiesand programmes.Added value of a human rights-basedapproach: using rights to influence powerTransforming existing distributions of power—the cornerstone of ahuman rights-based approach—is not without its challenges. Whileno two situations are exactly alike, experience discloses a rangeof ways in which a human rights-based approach has been usedto change power dynamics in development work and a range ofstrategies to help minimize risks: Map power relations influencing the given situation. Power isdynamic, its different dimensions in constant change, relationaland not always visible. Historical lack of power can besocialized and concealed within, crippling people’s propensityand ability to accept that they have rights and to claim them. Use language strategically. The language of human rights can bepowerful in both positive and negative ways. In some contexts itcan “shut you down” while in others it can serve your cause. Gather solid evidence and use knowledge strategically.Document success stories of rights-based approaches, and useyour strong and convincing evidence strategically, overcomingdisciplinary or other biases (e.g., challenging the assumption thatmore hospitals will reduce child mortality versus the assumptionthat realizing women’s rights and empowerment will not).18 What is the relationship betweena human rights-based approachand gender mainstreaming?A human rights-based approach to development and gendermainstreaming are complementary and mutually reinforcing,and can be undertaken without conflict or duplication.Gender mainstreaming calls for the integration of a genderperspective in development activities, with the ultimate goal ofachieving gender equality. 24 A human rights-based approachintegrates international human rights standards and principlesin development activities, including women’s human rightsand the prohibition of sex discrimination. The Committee onthe Elimination of Discrimination against Women has analysedcomprehensively and in depth how inequality affects women’slives; this is a valuable input for development policymakingand programming. When backed by national accountability24Make, bend and reshape the “rules of the game.” One key aspectof power is the ability to use knowledge to frame the possible,set rules and delimit what counts as knowledge and whoseknowledge counts. Making, bending and reshaping the rules ofthe game are one way for individuals to bring about change.Identify and strategically exploit entry points and hooks,matching your or your organization’s comparative advantagewith the types of spaces and actors you seek to influence.Build strategic alliances, coalitions and networks with otheractors who share a similar vision.Strengthen the capacity for agency. Build the capacity ofpeople in created and claimed spaces to articulate their rights.Walk the talk. Development actors must demonstrateresponsibility and accountability in their own actions, if theyare to effect transformations of power elsewhere.Source: A. Hughes and J. Wheeler, “Rights and power workshop: report”(Brighton, Institute of Development Studies, 17-20 December 2003),http://www2.ids.ac.uk/drccitizen/docs/r&pworkshopreportfinal.pdf.In its agreed conclusions 1997/2, the Economic and Social Council defined gendermainstreaming as “the process of assessing the implications for women and men ofany planned action, including legislation, policies and programmes, in all areas andat all levels. It is a strategy for making women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiencesan integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluationof policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres sothat women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimategoal is to achieve gender equality.” Official Records of the General Assembly, FiftysecondSession, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3/Rev.1), chap. IV, para. 4.18