Human Rights Based Approaches

Welcome to the web home of Amnesty International Irish Section’s Human Rights Based Approach Initiative (HRBAI). This site aims to tell you everything you need to know about the HRBAI and to provide you with a useful resource for information on Human Rights Based Approaches more generally.

Introduction to Human Rights Based Approaches

A human rights based approach (HRBA) is founded on three basic premises. Firstly everyone has rights. Secondly, these rights have corresponding duties, mainly for governments. Thirdly, these rights and duties are clearly set out in international human rights law. It is essentially about the process through which human rights become a reality for all people in society. HRBA applies five core principles aimed at ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by all: the application of the international human rights legal framework, empowerment, participation, non-discrimination and prioritisation of vulnerable groups, and accountability.

HRBA seek to ensure that human rights are a central frame of reference in policymaking and political choices by ensuring that people have the political, institutional, and material means to demand, exercise, and monitor their human rights, and to actively participate in decision-making processes.

HRBA entail more than a formal commitment to respect human rights; they require the integration of minimum human rights standards into all plans, policies, budgets, processes, and institutions. By definition, HRBA are as concerned with the process as with the outcome.

Principles of HRBA:

• Express linkage to Human Rights
• Accountability
• Empowerment
• Participation
• Non-discrimination and attention to vulnerable groups

If you want to find out more about these principles and the theory of HRBA, we recommend “Our Rights, Our Future – Human Rights Based Approaches in Ireland: Principles, Policies and Practice” which is available in the publications section of this site.

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About the HRBAI

Every Human Right is a universal claim, something which all people everywhere are entitled to, simply because they are human. Human rights are concerned with every person’s basic needs to live a life consistent with human dignity. They are minimum standards, accepted voluntarily by states and thus internationally recognised.

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Oversight Committee

The HRBAI is advised by a group of external experts who sit on the HRBAI Oversight Committee in their individual capacity. The Oversight Committee meet every two months and advise on the direction and implementation of the project and the planning for the next phase.

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Contact the HRBAI

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Events

Amnesty HRBA events

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HRBA Resources

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Publications by Amnesty

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Training and Capacity Building

One of the main components of the HRBAI has been capacity building and mentoring. Over the years Amnesty has worked with a vast number of organisations, providing human rights training and essentially assisting them in developing and utilising HRBA.

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Human Rights Based Approaches Annual Conference 2005

27th September 2005

The first annual conference on Human Rights Based Approaches was organised by Amnesty International’s Human Rights Based Approach Initiative on 27th September 2005. Professor William A. Schabas, director of the Irish Centre of Human Rights, NUI Galway, chaired the event and the speakers represented the legal, academic and practical aspects of the human rights sector.

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Human Rights Based Approach Training Courses

A number of training courses on Human Rights Based Approaches in Ireland are held each year. These week long courses are held in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

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Get your organisation to join Amnesty International

Ask your trade union, women's group, church - whatever group you are involved in - to affiliate to Amnesty International. We need the support of all elements of civil society. There is a subscription scale which suits organisations of all sizes.

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