Human rights

Donor and NGO policies

Donors understandings and approaches to human rights vary, although they often have core themes and principles in common. The policies range from rights-based approaches emphasising power and participation, to rights associated with democracy and the rule of law, to approaches that use rights implicitly, or only accept civil and political rights. For more information on DFID’s human rights policy, please see 'UK government human rights policy commitments'

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Multilateral Donors 

UNDP

• The HURIST (Human Rights Strengthening) programme is a joint programme of UNDP and OHCHR supporting the implementation of UNDP's policy on human rights.

UNDP, 2000, 'Human Development Report: Human Rights and Human Development', United Nations Development Programme, New York
The 2000 Human Development Report is perhaps the best starting point on rights and development. It provides a sustained argument that human rights and human development are mutually reinforcing, referring to specific human rights treaties.
Full text: available online

UNICEF

• Rights and results: UNICEF uses human rights, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), as a basis for programming.

World Bank

• The World Bank's website on social development has sections on empowerment, social inclusion and social action.

World Bank, 'Empowerment and Poverty Reduction: A Sourcebook' , World Bank, Washington DC
Access full text: available online

Bilateral donors

AusAID (Australian Agency for International Development)

• Web page on human rights

AusAid, 2001, 'Putting Things to Rights: The Use of Foreign Aid to Advance Human Rights in Developing Nations', submission to the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, February
Access full text: available online 

CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency)

CIDA, 1996, 'Policy for CIDA on Human Rights, Democratization and Good Governance', Canadian International Development Agency, Quebec
Access full text: available online

Danida (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark)

• Webpage on human rights and democracy

Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Human rights policies  

NZAID (New Zealand's International Aid and Development Agency)

• Web page on human rights

NZAID, 2002, 'Human Rights Policy Statement', New Zealand's International Aid and Development Agency, Wellington
Access full text: available online

SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation)

• Webpage and resources on human rights

SDC, 2004, 'Integrating Human Rights and Poverty Reduction: Towards a Human Rights-Based Approach for SDC', Working Paper, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Berne
Access full text: available online.

SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)

• Web page on human rights and democracy

SIDA, 2001, 'A Democracy and Human Rights-Based Approach to Development Cooperation', Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Stockholm
Access full text: available online

International NGOs

This section presents links to selected international NGOs that emphasise human rights or rights-based approaches in their development programmes. Where the NGO provides online information about their rights policies, the direct link to the webpage is provided.

• ActionAid
• CARE
• Oxfam
• Save the Children
• The Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) website also provides a wide range of documents on human rights and rights-based approaches to development in practice, drawn from various NGOs.

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