HRBA & Gender Mainstreaming

Understanding the Concepts

The basis of HRBA

Normative

International Human Rights standards

Operational

Promoting and protecting human rights

Human Rights Based Approach

• HRBA is a conceptual framework for the process of human development that is normatively based on international human rights standards and operationally directed to promoting and protecting human rights. It seeks to analyse inequalities which lie at the heart of development problems and redress discriminatory practices and unjust distributions of power that impede development progress.

OHCHR (2006): http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FAQen.pdf

The aim of HRBA

“Who is who” in HRBA?

Duty bearers Rights holders

UN Common Understanding of HRBA

1. HR as a core of programme planning and implementation

• Contribution to promotion of certain human rights

2. HRBA integrated in all spheres and all phases

of programming

• Goals, objectives and strategies

• Implementation• Monitoring• Evaluation

3. HRBA promotes capacities development

of duty-bearers and right-holders

• Duty-bearers: meeting their obligations

• Right-holders: claiming their rights

HRBA principles

HRBA principles

Participation Transparency

Accountability Good governance

Equality & non-discrimination

HRBA principles: existing approaches

UN Danish MFA Used for the purpose of this workshop

Participation: Overcoming of barriers for inclusion and empowerment of right-holders

Participation: Society with checks and balances are exercised by citizens, independent bodies and civil society

Participation: Inclusion in decision-making process at all levels , directly or through representative bodies

Non-discrimination: Which groups of right-holders excluded from decision-making process?

Non-discrimination:Equal access for all to fair legal proceedings, complaint mechanisms and conflict resolution

Non-discrimination: establishing of conditions ensuring equal access of individuals and groups to human rights disregard gender, religious, race, origination etc.

HRBA principles: existing approaches

UN Danish MFA Used for the purpose of this workshop

Transparency: Availability of information for RH including marginalized groups

Transparency:Sufficient revenue to finance reform and public services

Transparency : Sufficient access to information essential for development process

Accountability: Overcoming of obstacles preventing DB & RH to exercise their duties and rights

Accountability:Promotion of social dialogue

Accountability: the comprehensive dialogue between DB & RH

Good governance: democratic institutions, service delivery, rule of law, anti-corruption

Good governance: establishment of and access to effective independent legal system and complaints mechanisms

Good governance: promotion of democratic institutions, rule of law, transparency and responsibility

CSOs: Where to apply HRBA principles?

External Internal Participation: contribution to decision-making process, monitoring and evaluation

Participation: encouraging people to internal activities

Non-discrimination: equal access to decision-making process and development benefits

Non-discrimination: guaranteeing equal rights of all members of CSO

Transparency: availability of information of on DB’s activities and strategies

Transparency: Ensuring clear, consistent and available information of CSOs activity (strategy & action plan)

CSOs: Where to apply HRBA principles?

External Internal Accountability: Available tools of communication with DB

Accountability: Availability to internal discussions towards own development strategies

Good governance: advocacy for legal reform, public awareness-raising on the national and international legal framework, and capacity-building or reform of institutions.

Good governance: accountability participation, transparency+ responsibility and responsiveness to the needs of CSOs members

Gender Mainstreaming “vs.” HRBA

Gender Mainstreaming (GM) Principles

• Assumption: no gender-neutrality• Responsibility & accountability: system-wide• Women’s participation in decision-making• Institutionalisation through concrete steps• Complementary to specific & targeted• Will & resources

Links between HRBA & GM

Both rely on a framework applicable for all types of

project activities Both focus on activities of

specific groups

Both apply to all stages of project cycle (design, implementation,

monitoring, evaluation)

Both call for integration of gender perspective in development

activities with achieving the gender equality

GM through HRBA Principles

Participation of women in decision-making process at all

levels Non-discrimination on the basis

of sex and gender identity

Transparency: Challenging structural constraints to the equal

rights and choices by men and women

Accountability: Engagement of women in monitoring of their equal

enjoyment of social rights