UNDP and the Human Rights-based Approach to Programming;

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UNDP and the Human Rights-based Approach to
Programming Enhanced attention to Minorities in
Development
United Nations Development Programme
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The UN Common Understanding

• 1. All programmes of development cooperation,
  policies and technical assistance should further
  the realisation of human rights as laid down in
  the UDHR and other international human rights
  instruments.
• Human rights standards contained in, and
  principles derived from, the UDHR and other
  international human rights instruments guide all
  development cooperation and programming in all
  sectors and all phases of the programming process
  and development cooperation
• 3. Programmes of development cooperation
  contribute to the development of the capacities
  of duty-bearers to meet their obligations and
  of rights-holders to claim their rights

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Implications for UN Agencies

• Agencies need to understand and internalise the
  values and principles of the international bill
  of rights
• A human rights-sensitive organisational structure
  needs to be developed
• Internal human rights capacities need to be
  strengthened
• Organisational human rights policies, directives
  and guidelines need to be developed and adopted
• Programmes and advocacy strategies must be
  formulated, implemented, monitored and evaluated

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The HURIST-path since 99
National Level Country Offices UNDP
staff Policy Guidance and Programming
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Human Rights-based Programme Review Checklist for
UNDP Staff

• Country Context
• Excluded and Vulnerable Groups
• Stakeholder Capacity
• Programme and Project process (Conduct)
• Country Programme and Project Outcome (Results)

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Programme Review Checklist Excluded and
Vulnerable Groups

• Which groups are the most disadvantaged? How are
  vulnerability and poverty in the country defined?
  How does UNDP define vulnerability and poverty in
  the country?
• Are tools and indicators to identify excluded
  groups sufficiently disaggregated?
• How does the overall Country Programme address
  exclusion and disadvantage? How do specific
  projects do so?
• Does the UNDP Country Office adequately reflect
  the diversity of the country?

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Minorities in Development

• One of three areas as identified by UNDP
  colleagues in need of enhanced attention
• Cooperation with the Minority Rights Group
  International
• A first draft for UNDP was prepared in September
  2003
• The Regional HDR on Roma in Central and Eastern
  Europe, The draft prepared by MRG, and the HDR
  2004 on Cultural Liberty in Todays World are
  guiding our next steps.

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Some of the Recommendations received

• Initiate study on Minorities and the achievement
  of the MDGs.
• Mainstream minority rights issues in Early
  Warning Report methodology
• Capacity Development of UNDP staff to deal with
  minorities and minority rights development of a
  checklist
• Enhance minority related Poverty Diagnosis (HDI
  for minorities)
• Build a UNDP internal database on examples of
  best practice in engaging minorities in
  development and governance at all levels

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Next Steps

• Learn from other key agencies, notably OSCE,
  research institutions and NGOs.
• Organise informal consultations on UNDP draft
• Pilot test assumptions, findings and
  recommendations through practical application
• Complete UNDP Policy Guidance Note (2005)