High-level panel discussion by MRG and Amnesty International: Human Rights-based Approach in Development
13 December 2011
The Human Rights-based Approach in Development - Experience from the Right to Adequate Housing - high-level panel organized by Amnesty International and Minority Rights Group
European Development Days (EDD), Warsaw, Poland
Date: 16 Dec 2011, 09:00 - 10:45
Location: Copernicus Science Centre, Auditorium C, 1st floor
Watch the panel live here http://live.eudevdays.eu/
Panel members:
- Esther Somoire, Centre for Indigenous Women and Children (CIWOCH), Kenya
- Jean-Louis Ville, Head of Unit for Governance, Democracy, Gender & Human Rights, Directorate General for Development and Cooperation, European Commission
- Lilla Makkay, Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hungary
- Neil Clarke, Director, Minority Rights Group Europe
- Widney Brown, Senior Director of International Law and Policy, Amnesty International
- Eric Makokha, Chief Executive Officer of Shelter Forum, Kenya
- Moderator: Joana Gomes Cardoso, former CNN journalist
The promotion of human rights is essential for development, and to ensuring that European institutions and governments are held accountable and involve communities in decisions which affect their lives. This includes people living in poverty who are among the most marginalized, suffer the greatest human rights violations, and are excluded from democratic processes.
Development measures which aim to strengthen accountability in governance and improve the lives of people living in poverty must address obstacles to the fulfilment of rights. Economic, social and cultural rights provide an international framework to hold governments accountable to their human rights obligations, and enable individuals and communities to claim their rights and demand access to effective remedies when these rights are violated.
The human rights-based approach ensures that human rights are mainstreamed and internationally-agreed standards are applied when determining and assessing objectives and progress. In response to the legal and political obligation of member states to mainstream human rights in its policies and development measures, the panel introduces the HRBA as a progressive solution to development. As a new EU member state hosts the European Development Days, lessons will be drawn from the emerging EU donors’ practice and experience in mainstreaming human rights.
The panel aims to raise awareness of the need for development policy and practice to be consistent with human rights standards and for integrating the HRBA into development. With the example of the right to adequate housing for people living in poverty, the panellists will discuss human rights mainstreaming through the application of a human rights-based approach and what this means for development policy and implementation. They will also look at typical challenges policy-makers and practitioners encounter when mainstreaming human rights. Panellists will bring different perspectives, including those of people affected, of implementers, of new member states and human rights organizations.
For further information or to arrange interviews contact:
Bernadett Sebály
M: +36 70 217 2601
email: bernadett.sebaly@mrgmail.org