Human Rights carry normative value as a set of universally agreed values, standards and principles.

Every UN member state has undertaken international legal obligations for human rights. More than 80 percent of member states have ratified 4 or more of the 9 core international human rights treaties.

All UNCTs must use a human rights Based Approach (HRBA) to support country analysis, advocate for priorities in the national development framework, and prepare an UNDAF that demonstrates a strategic use of UNCT resources and expertise.

A HRBA leads to better and more sustainable outcomes by analyzing and addressing the inequalities, discriminatory practices and unjust power relations which are often at the heart of development problems. It puts the international human rights entitlements and claims of the people (the 'right-holders') and the corresponding obligations of the State (the 'duty-bearer') in the centre of the national development debate, and it clarifies the purpose of capacity development.

In the UNDG, implementing the human rights-based approach to development programming is the focus of the Human Rights Mainstreaming Mechanism (HRM). On the Website of the UNDG-HRM you can find out more about its members and activities and you will also find the latest version of the UN Common Learning Package on Human Rights-Based Approach.

In the sections below, you can find more information and links to relevant websites on the following 4 themes;

Policy and Guidance
Tools and Training
Examples and Experiences
Other Resource Material

Click here to get to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) overview on publications.

Click here for the Practitioner’s Portal on HRBA website.

Click here to get to the Common Learning Package on HRBA.

Examples and experiences can be found in the Action2 Archives

and on the OHCHR website on Human Rights in the World.

Click here to find out more about Knowledge Management on the UNDG-HRM website.