Integrating Human Rights in Development Policy: Mapping Donor Strategies and Practices

Abstract

Integrating human rights in development policy has been highlighted as a key priority on the international, European and national level. This mapping exercise presents a review of the donor strategies and practices for integrating human rights in development policy which have emerged in recent years. It draws upon a broad selection of policy and guidance documents from multi- and bilateral donors, reports and recommendations from international institutions as well as academic research. The paper distinguishes five approaches for integrating human rights in development policy: (1) rhetorical endorsement of human rights; (2) human rights dialogue and conditionality; (3) human rights and democracy programmes; (4) human rights mainstreaming, and (5) human rights-based approaches. These different policy approaches can build on each other and strengthen the integration of human rights in development cooperation policy and can also be presented as self-standing policy 'options'. As a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) constitutes the most comprehensive strategy, closer attention is given to this concept and its implementation. Finally, the paper addresses the evaluation of human rights policies and the operational difficulties faced in institutionalising human rights. It notes that donors continue to face a number of organizational challenges in implementing their human rights policies.

Keywords: Human Rights, Development Cooperation, Donor Policy, Human Rights - Based Approach, Mainstreaming