Understanding Rights-Based Approaches in Development
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-hm-rght-dv-02
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About the Article
Rights-Based Approaches (RBAs) provide a critical framework for embedding human rights into development practice. Grounded in principles of universality, equality, participation, and accountability, RBAs move beyond needs-based models to address structural causes of poverty and exclusion. This article traces the historical evolution of RBAs from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting their institutionalization within global policy frameworks. Through case studies from Brazil, India, South Africa, Bangladesh, Uganda, and the Philippines, it demonstrates how RBAs enhance accountability, strengthen social cohesion, and improve outcomes across health, education, governance, and disaster risk reduction. Challenges such as political resistance, limited resources, and cultural barriers are examined, alongside strategies like legal reform, participatory mechanisms, and capacity-building. By linking human rights to development effectiveness, the article underscores the importance of RBAs for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable progress.
Key Topics
- Rights-based approaches (RBAs)
- Human rights and development
- Participation and inclusion
- Accountability and rule of law
- Global human rights frameworks
- Applications across sectors
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Understanding Rights-Based Approaches in Development. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. Neya Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-hm-rght-dv-02
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