The Human Rights-based Approach: A More Effective Framework for International Development Policies in New EU Member States
The mainstreaming of human rights in development cooperation is a legal and political obligation for all Member States of the European Union (EU), including the New Member States. This policy paper argues that, rather than being an additional burden, human rights mainstreaming through the application of the human rights-based approach (HRBA) offers practical solutions for the New Member States to overcome some of the specific challenges they face as relatively new donors of Official Development Assistance (ODA), such as limited human and financial resources and limited public awareness on aid. Moreover, it shows that the specific context for ODA in the New Member States provides excellent opportunities for the integration of the HRBA and would allow these states to capitalize on their particular expertise and their ‘added value’ as donors while being in line with international and EU obligations.
Author(s)
