Human Rights in UNDP
- in the context of the right to water and
sanitation
Louise Nylin
Human rights and justice specialist
Bucharest, 14 May 2008
UNDP’s niche in human rights*:
 Support
to National Human Rights
Institutions (Ombudsman Institutions)
 Develop capacity to apply a Human Rights
Based Approach to Programming
 Engagement with the UN’s human rights
machinery
* UNDP Human Rights Practice Note, 2005
What is a
Human Rights Based Approach?




A process that is normatively based on
international HR standards and principles
Focuses on disadvantages, discrimination and
marginalisation in the development process
It aims for the progressive achievement of all
human rights
It recognizes human beings as rights-holders
and establishes obligations for duty-bearers.
The UN common understanding
on the HRBA
GOAL
1.
PROCESS
2.
All programmes of development co-operation, policies and
technical assistance should further the realization of human
rights as laid down in the UDHR and other international
human rights instruments.
Human rights standards and principles guide all
development cooperation and programming in all sectors and
in all phases of the programming process.
OUTCOME
3.
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.
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
Programming informed by
Human Rights Mechanisms
UN Independent Expert on the
Right to Water and Sanitation
established in March 2008
 Treaty
Bodies and Special Procedures
observations
 Treaty
Bodies and Special Procedures
recommendations
 Treaty
Bodies General Comments
General comment no 15 of ICESCR
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 Principles

Universality and inalienability

Indivisibility

Interdependence and Inter-relatedness

Equality and non-discrimination

Participation and inclusion

Accountability and rule of law
…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
OUTCOME
Development cooperation contributes to the
development of the capacities of ‘dutybearers’ to meet their obligations and/ or of
‘rights-holders’ to claim their rights
Rights-holder and Duty-bearers
Right-holders:
6,653,467,548


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
Definition of the right to
water and sanitation *

Sufficient water
 Clean water
 Accessible water and sanitation
 Affordable water and sanitation
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
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Non-discrimination and inclusion of vulnerable and
marginalized groups
Access to information
Participation
Accountability
* General comment 15, Guidelines for the realization of the right to drinking water supply
and sanitation, UN common understanding of the human rights based approach
Thank You!