Frequently Asked Questions on Human Rights-Based Approach

3. Programmes of development cooperation contributeto the development of the capacities of “duty-bearers”to meet their obligations and of “rights-holders”to claim their rights.In a human rights-based approach, human rights determinethe relationship between individuals and groups withvalid claims (rights-holders) and State and non-State actorswith correlative obligations (duty-bearers). It identifiesrights-holders (and their entitlements) and correspondingduty-bearers (and their obligations), and works towardsstrengthening the capacities of rights-holders to make theirclaims, and of duty-bearers to meet their obligations.Implications of a human rights-based approach to developmentprogramming of United Nations agenciesExperiencehasshownthattheuseofahumanrights-basedapproach requires the use of good programming practices.However, the application of “good programming practices”doesnotbyitselfconstituteahumanrights-basedapproach,and requires additional elements.The following elements are necessary, specific, and uniquetoahumanrights-basedapproach:Other elements of good programming practices that are alsoessential under a human rights-based approach include:1. Peoplearerecognizedaskeyactorsintheirowndevelopment, rather than passive recipients of commoditiesand services.2. Participationisbothameansandagoal.3. Strategies are empowering, not disempowering.4. Both outcomes and processes are monitored andevaluated.5. Analysis includes all stakeholders.6. Programmes focus on marginalized, disadvantaged,and excluded groups.7. Thedevelopmentprocessislocallyowned.8. Programmesaimtoreducedisparity.9. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches are usedin synergy.10. Situation analysis is used to identify immediate, underlyingand basic causes of development problems.11. Measurable goals and targets are important inprogramming.12. Strategic partnerships are developed and sustained.13. Programmes support accountability to all stakeholders.(a) Assessment and analysis in order to identify thehumanrightsclaimsofrights-holdersandthecorrespondinghuman rights obligations of duty-bearersas well as the immediate, underlying, and structuralcauses of the non-realization of rights.(b) Programmes assess the capacity of rights-holdersto claim their rights, and of duty-bearers to fulfiltheir obligations. They then develop strategies tobuild these capacities.(c) Programmes monitor and evaluate both outcomesand processes guided by human rights standardsand principles.(d) Programming is informed by the recommendations ofinternationalhumanrightsbodiesandmechanisms.37