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Human Development Report: Human Rights and Human Development

Author: United Nations Development Programme
Date: 2000
Size: 32 pages (236 KB)

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Summary

How is the international community to achieve universal realisation of human rights? This report by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) suggests that bold approaches are needed. These should be adapted to the realities of the new era of globalisation, to its new global actors and rules. Every country needs to strengthen its social arrangements for securing human freedoms. Legislation alone is not enough.

Human freedom is the common purpose and motivation of human rights and human development. Until now, however, the movements for human rights and for human development have had separate traditions and strategies. United in a broader alliance, each can bring new energy and strength to the other. 20th Century advances in human rights and human development were unprecedented. But there is a long and unfinished agenda of work still to be done. Achieving all rights for all people in all countries in the 21st century will require action and commitment from the major groups in every society, NGOs, media and businesses, local as well as national government, parliamentarians and other opinion leaders.

• Poverty eradication is not only a development goal: it is a central challenge for human rights in the 21st century.
• A decent standard of living, adequate nutrition, health care, education, decent work and protection against calamities are not just development goals, they are also human rights.
• The fulfilment of all human rights requires democracy that is inclusive, protecting the rights of minorities, providing separation of powers and ensuring public accountability.
• Elections alone are not enough.
• Information and statistics are a powerful tool for creating a culture of accountability and for realising human rights.

The world community needs to return to the audacious vision of those who drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Human rights in an integrated world require global justice. The state-centred model of accountability must be extended to the obligations of non-state actors and to the states obligations beyond national borders.
• The system of global governance needs to be transparent and fair, giving voice to small and poor countries.
• Activists, lawyers, and statisticians and development specialists need to work together with communities.
• They need to generate information and evidence that can break down barriers of disbelief and mobilise changes in policy and behaviour. The challenge is to build a culture of human rights awareness and commitment.
• Human rights and human development cannot be realised universally without stronger international action, especially to support disadvantaged people and countries and to offset growing global inequalities and marginalisation.
• A global change in attitude is needed, moving to a positive approach of support for human rights in place of punitive approaches.

Access full text: available online

Source: UNDP, 2000, ‘Human Development Report: Human Rights and Human Development’, United Nations Development Programme, New York
Author: Oslo Governance Centre, http://www.undp.org/oslocentre/