{"id":4571,"date":"2021-10-20T23:46:54","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T23:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrbaportal.org\/?page_id=4571"},"modified":"2022-12-03T20:28:56","modified_gmt":"2022-12-03T20:28:56","slug":"the-human-rights-based-approach-to-development-cooperation-towards-a-common-understanding-among-un-agencies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hrbaportal.org\/the-human-rights-based-approach-to-development-cooperation-towards-a-common-understanding-among-un-agencies\/","title":{"rendered":"The Human Rights Based Approach to Development Cooperation: Towards a Common Understanding Among UN Agencies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UN Statement of Common Understanding on Human Rights-Based Approaches to Development Cooperation and Programming (the Common Understanding) was adopted by the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) in 2003.  The purpose behind developing a common understanding was to ensure that UN agencies, funds and programmes apply a consistent Human Rights-Based Approach to common programming processes at global and regional levels, and especially at the country level in relation to the CCA and UNDAF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The United Nations is founded on the principles of peace, justice, freedom and human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes human rights<\/a> as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace. The unanimously adopted Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action states that democracy, development, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the UN Programme for Reform that was launched in 1997, the Secretary-General called on all entities of the UN system to mainstream human rights into their various activities and programmes within the framework of their respective mandates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then a number of UN agencies have adopted a human rights-based approach to their development cooperation and have gained experiences in its operationalization. But each agency has tended to have its own interpretation of approach and how it should be operationalized. However, UN interagency collaboration at global and regional levels, and especially at the country level in relation to the CCA and UNDAF processes, requires a common understanding of this approach and its implications for development programming. What follows is an attempt to arrive at such an understanding on the basis of those aspects of the human rights-based approach that are common to the policy and practice of the UN bodies that participated in the Interagency Workshop on a Human Rights based Approach in the context of UN reform 3-5 May, 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Statement of Common Understanding specifically refers to a human rights based approach to the development cooperation and development programming by UN agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Common Understanding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. All programmes of development co-operation, policies and technical assistance should further the realisation of human rights as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Human rights standards contained in, and principles derived from, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments guide all development cooperation and programming in all sectors and in all phases of the programming process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Development cooperation contributes to the development of the capacities of \u2018duty-bearers\u2019 to meet their obligations and\/or of \u2018rights-holders\u2019 to claim their rights.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    1.  All programmes of development co-operation, policies and technical assistance should further the realisation of human rights as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    A set of programme activities that only incidentally contributes to the realization of human rights does not necessarily constitute a human rights-based approach to programming. In a human rights-based approach to programming and development cooperation, the aim of all activities is to contribute directly to the realization of one or several human rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Human rights standards contained in, and principles derived from, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments guide all development cooperation and programming in all sectors and in all phases of the programming process.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Human Rights principles guide programming in all sectors, such as: health, education, governance, nutrition, water filtration<\/a> and sanitation, HIV\/AIDS, employment and labour relations and social and economic security. This includes all development cooperation directed towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the Millennium Declaration. Consequently, human rights standards and principles guide both the Common Country Assessment and the UN Development Assistance Framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Human rights principles guide all programming in all phases of the programming process, including assessment and analysis, programme planning and design (including setting of goals, objectives and strategies); implementation, monitoring and evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Among these human rights principles are: universality and inalienability; indivisibility; inter-dependence and inter-relatedness; non-discrimination and equality; participation and inclusion; accountability and the rule of law. These principles are explained below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n