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Key Text Human Rights-Based Reviews of UNDP Programmes: Working Guidelines

Author: UNDP
Date: 2003
Size: 24 pages (163 KB)

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Summary

The UN operates a Common Understanding of the human rights-based approach to development (HRBA). This United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)paper sets out working guidelines for a human rights-based review of UNDP country offices and projects based on the Common Understanding. The guidelines aim to support reviews at each phase of programming, strengthen existing activities and assist in the design of new programmes from a human rights perspective.

The UN Common Understanding of the HRBA naturally complements UNDP's principles and procedures:

All development cooperation programmes should further the realisation of human rights. These are internationally recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments.
Development cooperation contributes to the capacity of 'duty-bearers' to meet their obligations and/or of 'rights-holders' to claim their rights.
Human rights standards should underpin baselines and indicators. Accountability for measurable results helps assess progress.
Policies and programmes grounded in international standards build a human rights culture.
National capacity to realise human rights must be assessed. Advocacy against discrimination and for equality upholds universality. Partnerships, participation and transparency fulfil human rights principles.
UNDP's multi-sectoral mandate promotes the indivisibility of human rights. Sustainable Human Development places the human person at the centre of rights and development.

Human rights based reviews of UNDP offices and programmes should follow a given methodology. A review in a UNDP country office would take two to three weeks and might involve a consultant. It would include desk reviews, an initial programme staff workshop, staff interviews, field trips, partner interviews and staff reading. Next would follow a preliminary report, closing workshop, follow-up meetings and programme and project redirection.

Understanding human rights in the specific country context is key, as is an appreciation of the interdependence of human rights.
Indicators should be disaggregated to identify causes of discrimination and set programme priorities.
Standards and benchmarks should be established and duty bearers, rights-holders, and mechanisms of accountability identified.
The HRBA checklist for programme staff includes questions covering the country context and UNDP programme; excluded and vulnerable groups and stakeholder capacity.

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Source: United Nations Development Programme, 2003, 'Human Rights-Based Reviews of UNDP Programmes: Working Guidelines'
Author: United Nations Development Program (UNDP), http://www.undp.org/