Rights-based

A 'rights-based' approach is a framework for development and policy that prioritizes and centers on the fundamental human rights of all individuals. It emphasizes the entitlement of rights-holders and the corresponding obligations of duty-bearers (e.g., governments, institutions) to respect, protect, and fulfill those rights. This paradigm shift considers individuals as active subjects of rights, rather than passive recipients of services or beneficiaries of charity, ensuring that all people are treated with dignity and equity. The concept aims to address underlying power imbalances and structural inequalities, advocating for participation, accountability, and non-discrimination. This framework calls for the integration of human rights principles into all stages of policy and program development, monitoring, and evaluation, thereby promoting just and sustainable societies.

Rights-based meaning with examples

• The organization implemented a rights-based approach to education, ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, had equal access to quality learning environments. This involved actively addressing discriminatory practices and advocating for inclusive curricula, thereby meeting the rights of children to education and safeguarding their future.
• The government's new healthcare initiative was designed with a rights-based lens, guaranteeing access to essential medical services without discrimination. This included provisions for affordable care, addressing the needs of marginalized communities, and ensuring patient autonomy, which adhered to the right to health.
• In response to the refugee crisis, the agency adopted a rights-based framework, prioritizing the protection and dignity of displaced persons. This encompassed providing safe shelter, access to food and water, and ensuring freedom from violence, acknowledging the fundamental rights of refugees.
• The community development project employed a rights-based participatory method, empowering residents to actively engage in decision-making processes related to infrastructure improvements. This approach fostered ownership and accountability, thereby upholding their rights to participate in matters affecting their well-being.
• Advocates for environmental justice are increasingly using a rights-based approach to address climate change impacts. This strategy focuses on the right to a healthy environment and aims to hold polluters accountable, striving to protect the rights of communities most vulnerable to climate-related harm.