Highlight possible roles and added value of NHRIs in the larger development context, particularly on influencing development processes, with concrete case studies in areas such as participation in the formulation of poverty reduction strategies, decentralization programs, policy and budget monitoring.
Profound linkages exist between development, democratic governance and human rights. NHRIs can be engaged to sustain a human rights-based approach to development and democratic governance that promotes international legal standards.
While many NHRIs tend to focus on civil and political rights, they also have important roles making the connections between development and human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. UNCTs can support NHRIs in this work at the international level, for example by supporting submissions and reports to Treaty Bodies.
NHRIs should use the Millennium Development Goals as well as other internationally agreed goals as objectives: the goals offer a road map to the determination of priorities at both the international and national levels. Additionally, MDGs offer progress indicators that can track and monitor progress. Adapting these to the particularities of each country permits effective target-setting and programming for NHRIs.
Working within cultural contexts is integral to a NHRI’s approach to development and human rights, and especially to the effectiveness of NHRIs working to achieve equality. Working within cultural traditions can allow the NHRI to work with social and cultural leaders to effect attitudinal and practical changes. With the support of UNCTs, NHRIs can be informed of relevant norms and documents related to cultural rights and their relationship to other human rights.
Because of the important links between democratic governance and human development, NHRIs can look to strategic planning processes as a way to identify specific areas of priority in the development context that have implications for human rights. The collaboration of UNCTs, NHRIs and UNDP is necessary to the creation of an enabling environment to achieve MDGs. NHRIs can also play an effective role in poverty reduction strategies, by maintaining a strong human rights-based approach to Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP). Their role may include seeking involvement in the development and monitoring of a PRSP, and intervening where necessary.
NHRIs also monitor human rights situation and government resource allocations related to particular issues. In this regard, they might make recommendations for national budgets, since these allocations can support economic, social and cultural rights and therefore promote human development. Finally, keeping in mind that democratic governance, human development and human rights are interconnected, NHRIs can take advantage of UNDP-supported efforts at decentralization of decision-making powers to introduce human rights-based development initiatives to local decision-making new entities.