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Applying a HRBA to Monitoring the
Implementation of the AfT:
Review of Basic Principles
Lucila Beato
UNMIL/HRPS
Buchanan, 15/11/2012
1. What is Human Rights Based Approach
(HRBA)?
2. The HRBA in the Development Processes
3. Linking Rights with Results: Monitoring and
Evaluation
What is HRBA?
What is a Human Rights Based
Approach?

The development process is normatively based on
international HR standards and principles

It recognizes human beings as rights-holders and establishes
obligations for duty-bearers.

It focuses on discriminated and marginalized groups

It aims for the progressive achievement of all human rights

It gives equal importance to the outcome and process of
development
What is a human rights-based approach
to development?
Rhetorical repackaging?
Political conditionality?
Adding human rights activities?
A HRBA helps the UN and partners to answer 4
critical questions:
Who has been left behind and why?
What are they entitled to?
 Who has to do something about it?
 What do they need, to take action?
Why a human rights-based approach?
Intrinsic value


based on universal values
Universal legal standards for a life with dignity
Instrumental to intervention strategies



Addresses power inequalities and discrimination
Deals with weaknesses in accountability systems
Objective framework to manage conflicts and seek
redress
Institutional reasons (UN comparative advantage)


Impartiality to deal with sensitive issues
Holistic analysis and integral responses to problems
What is a Human Rights-Based Approach?
• Conscious and systematic integration of
human rights standards and human rights
principles in all aspects of programming work
Step by Step to a HRBA
1. Situation Assessment
and Analysis
2. Planning and Design
Human Rights
Principles
4. Monitoring and
Evaluation
3. Implementation
A HRBA…
•
•
•
•
•
Emphasizes processes and outcomes
Draws attention to marginalized populations
Works towards equitable service delivery
Extends and deepens participation
Ensures local ownership of development
processes
• Strengthens accountability of all actors
The Human Rights Based Approach
in the Development Process
1.
GOAL

All programmes of development co-operation should
further the realization of human rights as laid down in the
UDHR and other international human rights instruments
The realization of human rights is the ultimate goal of all
development programmes

HRBA influences the identification of the strategic priorities

Programming is informed by the recommendations of International
HR bodies and mechanisms
2)
PROCESS

Human rights standards and principles guide
all development cooperation and
programming in all sectors and in all phases
of the programming process
Human Rights standards and principles improve the quality of
outcomes and processes

Human rights standards delineate the ‘playing field’ in which
development takes place

HR principles provide the “playing rules” for the development
process.
…The integration of human rights principles and
standards into all stages of the programming
process…
ASSESSMENT & ANALYSIS
MONITORING AND
EVALUATION
IMPLEMENTATION
PRIORITY SETTING
PROGRAMME PLANNING
AND DESIGN
Human Rights Standards
The normative
content of the
right: the type
of claims and
corresponding
obligations
contained in a
right
In programming, the standards guide:
…Identification of development
challenges as human rights issues
(assessment)
…Analysis of roles and capacities of
rights-holders and duty bearers
…Definition of development objectives
…Formulation of corresponding
benchmarks and indicators
Human Rights Principles
 Universality and inalienability
 Indivisibility
 Interdependence and Interrelatedness
 Equality and non-discrimination
 Participation and inclusion
 Accountability and rule of law
Participation and empowerment: both a
means and an end
Empowerment
↑↑
Joint decision making
↑↑
Consultation
↑↑
Information sharing
« The Government will promote
farmer-based organization as
representatives of farming
communities and will ensure
their role in local level planning.
FBOs will play a key role in
defining the kinds of services
to be provided and will be the
main mechanism for building
the capacity of farmers »
(Liberia PRS, p. 63).
3)
OUTCOME

Development cooperation contributes to the
development of the capacities of ‘duty-bearers’ to
meet their obligations and/or of ‘rights-holders’ to
claim their rights
Focus on relation individuals-State (claimsobligations)

Shifting development from service delivery as
primary focus to building capacity to claim and fulfil
human rights

States require capacity to strengthen national
protection systems and comply with their obligations
Rights-holders and Duty-bearers
Right-holders:
6,652,595,567 persons
 Every individual, either a
man woman or child, of
any race, ethnic group or
social condition
 To some extent groups
Duty-bearers:
Much less
 Primarily States
 In some cases individuals
have specific obligations
 Individuals and private
entities have generic
responsibilities towards the
community to respect the
rights of others
The role of Capacity Development
REALISATION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS AND HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT GOALS
CLAIMING AND
EXERCISING
RIGHTS
FULFILLING
OBLIGATIONS
HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
CAPACITIES FOR
EMPOWERMENT
CAPACITIES FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY
Linking Rights with Results:
Monitoring & Evaluation
Monitoring vs. Evaluation
Monitoring
Evaluation
Systematic, ongoing

Systematic, periodic
During programme implementation

During and after programme
implementation
Tracking of activities and progress

Judgment of merit, value or worth of a
programme/project
According to AWP

Compared to evaluation criteria
(relevance, effectiveness, impact)
For short term corrective action

For decision-making about future
programmes
Accountability for implementation

Accountability for results
Contributes to evaluation

For office & organizational learning
Conducted by insiders

Conducted by impartial outsiders
Are we doing things right?

Did we do the right things?
Measures of performance
Monitoring = Are we doing things right?
Evaluation = Did we do the right things?
Indicators = How do we know?
What is an indicator?
A tool to measure:
(i) evidence of progress towards a result or
(ii) that a result has been achieved
Indicators can be:
(i) quantitative
(ii) qualitative
HRBA to
Monitoring & Evaluation Systems
Based on claims
and obligations
in human rights What to measure?
Based on
standards
human rights
 Programme performance (Impact, Outcomes,
principles
Output)

Programme process: Participation, accountability
and non-discrimination

Programme context:
 existence of laws, policies and institutional
mechanisms
 Duty-bearers’ efforts to meet their obligations
 Right-holders’ disparities in enjoying rights
HRBA to
Monitoring & Evaluation
How to measure?

Identify the rights-holders and duty-bearers who will contribute
to the M&E process either as:
-Information providers, for example line ministries
-Independent information interpreters, for example National
Human Rights Institutions

Bring them together in a participatory process

Ensure access to available information and data on the
programme