What is a Human Rights Based Approach?

There is no set definition of a Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA). The rights based approach can be best understood by its characteristics, explained below:

1. The HRBA turns 'needs' into 'rights'

Using the HRBA means that what was previously a request for improved service, is strengthened by the fact that the government has voluntarily committed itself in an international human rights treaty to provide a certain standard of, for example, housing and health services. The request becomes a call for the government to live up to this obligation.

2. The HRBA promotes accountability

Because governments have signed up to human rights treaties they are obliged to respect, protect and fulfil these rights and submit regular reports to bodies which assess their performance in meeting this obligation.

The HRBA turns government and therefore public authorities/service providers into duty-bearers; they are obligated to demonstrate how they are working towards realising people's rights. The Rights based approach enables people in the community to remind government and service providers of the rights they have promised to respect, protect and fulfil.

3. The HRBA empowers people

In a Human Rights Based Approach the process of how we go about claiming the right is every bit as important as the end result. The HRBA works to make powerful those most affected by the issues, enabling them to remind governments that asking for adequate standards of housing and the highest attainable standards of health is not unreasonable or excessive. The government have signed international Human Rights treaties promising to make these things a reality.

4. Participation is central to a HRBA

The PPR Project will empower people to take full part in identifying the issues important to them, and help them to tackle the issues themselves. The HRBA works to ensure people in poverty are involved when decisions are made that affect their lives. It will also ensure that the methods used and lessons learned from the project remains in the community, to be passed on and used for other issues.

5. The HRBA focuses on the inclusion and involvement of particularly vulnerable groups

By empowering people in communities to participate in addressing their most pressing issues, the HRBA will ensure that groups traditionally underrepresented in public life play an active part in addressing the issues that prevent them fully enjoying their rights.