Rights Responsibilities and the Root Causes of Poverty

Rights, Responsibilities and the Root Causes of Poverty Holistic Approaches to Sustainable Development Antioch University, January 2005

Development Background 1940’s: Emergency response to WWII victims 1948: Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948– economic development does not bring about peace and respect for human rights. 1950’s: Disaster relief and “needs” programs 1960’s: “Modernize” so-called backward economies. It is possible, necessary and duty of the world to make that happen. Antioch University, January 2005

Development & Human Rights 1970’s: Basic needs, multi-sector programs 1980’s: Infrastructures, structural adjustments, e. g. micro enterprise developments 1990’s: Human resource development New human rights instruments (e. g. Convention of the Child) Development-related international conferences (women in Beijing, nutrition in Rome) Antioch University, January 2005

Search for root causes of poverty Zaire Rwandan refugee camps Antioch University, January 2005

Development vs. and/or Human rights Antioch University, January 2005

Eurocentric Development Some say development and human rights discourse is Western-created and imbued with Western superiority Development way is wrong and those doing the defining and funding are privileged, male, Western outsiders. Mismatch with what local people are doing with their lives Antioch University, January 2005

Human Rights debates “Negative rights”–states to protect certain rights that violate human dignity Examples: Freedom from torture, degrading treatment and arbitrary detention; freedom of speech, association and religion “Positive rights”– states to promote certain social outcomes. Examples: Rights to education, adequate standards of living, highest obtainable standard of health. Antioch University, January 2005

Debates Presumed Western origin of human rights Questions about the meaning and even existence of rights, e. g. rights or aspirations? Issue of direct application of human rights standards to non-state actors e. g. corporations Are human rights universal or is the entire development and human rights ideology Eurocentric? Antioch University, January 2005

Which comes first – removing poverty and misery or guaranteeing political liberty and civil rights? --Amartya Sen Antioch University, January 2005

Burmese Aung San Suu Kyi, the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma is a struggle for life and dignity…people of my country want two freedoms that spell security: freedom from want and freedom from war” Antioch University, January 2005

Rights-based approach (RBA) People are poor not only, because they lack assets and skills, but because they suffer from social exclusion, marginalization and discrimination. Antioch University, January 2005

Hierarchy of Causes of Poverty: Immediate Causes These are causes that are directly related to life and survival and include: • Disease, • Famine, • Environmental disasters, • Conflict Antioch University, January 2005

Intermediate Causes These causes affect people’s well-being and opportunities for development and livelihood security, where the majority of current development efforts are targeted. • Low livelihood (agric or income) productivity; • Limited livelihood opportunities; • Lack of skills; • Inadequate access to food; • Inadequate care for women and children; • Lack of basic services, e. g. , health, education, water and sanitation, education Antioch University, January 2005

Underlying Causes: üUnderlying Causes of Poverty are related to the systemic and structural underpinnings of underdevelopment. üUnderlying Causes operate at the societal and higher levels, e. g. regional, global Antioch University, January 2005

Underlying Causes are most often the result of a combination of: üPolitical üEconomic üSocial (&/or) üEnvironmental Factors Antioch University, January 2005

Levels of Cause in Relation to Response Immediate – Emergency Relief Intermediate – Development Assistance & Needs Focus Underlying – Needs & Rights Focus Antioch University, January 2005

Interrelated Outcomes Social positions = rights, gender, discrimination Human conditions = needs Enabling Environment = governance, partnership, institutional context Antioch University, January 2005

RBA Poverty eradication and social justice by: Improving the human condition, e. g. basic needs, livelihood security Improving social positions, e. g. control of their lives, end inequality discrimination Creating a sound enabling environment, e. g. responsive public, private, civic and social institutions, inclusive of constituents Antioch University, January 2005

World Bank, 2000 “Poverty as multidimensional poverty, beyond low income, encompassing lack of access to health and education as well as vulnerability, voicelessness and powerlessness. ” Antioch University, January 2005

Three considerations of basic rights: 1. Direct importance to human living 2. Instrumental importance to ensure people are heard and supported 3. Constructive in conceptualization of “needs” Antioch University, January 2005

Rights-based approach Focuses on claims and duties and mechanisms that can promote respect and adjudicate the violation of rights, end states vs. programs. Those served are rights-holders, not simply beneficiaries or participants Moves from charity toward structural change, from needs-based to rights-based, e. g. nutrition story Includes duty-holders such as i. NGO’s, corporations, individuals, NGO’s Antioch University, January 2005

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What does it mean for development? • Process as important as actual products • Facilitation and advocacy integrated with direct service delivery and capacity-building • Respect and dignity in cultures • Focus on end states • Importance of working on both Needs & Rights Antioch University, January 2005

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Warning! These are NOT meant to be prescriptive! • Include these in contextual analysis to determine if they are key leverage points. If not, identify the key leverage UCP in your context Antioch University, January 2005

Four Categories for Underlying Cause Learning Gender Inequity Social Exclusion Unmet Rights to Access to Resources & Services Antioch University, January 2005 Failing Governance Systems

How does a holistic focus change development work? • How we work on immediate and intermediate levels will likely change • Increasingly move to facilitation role • Increase our use of advocacy • Target multiple levels (micro-macro) • Also: add our voice to theirs, access legitimacy from eyes of marginalized populations, facilitator not doer or neutral, downward accountability to stakeholders, clarity and openness. Antioch University, January 2005

How Does a RBA Focus Change CARE’s Work? 1. We will continue to work at the Immediate and Intermediate levels – • How we conduct this work will likely change 2. We will increasingly move to a facilitation role 3. Increased use of advocacy 4. Need to target multiple levels (micro-macro) Antioch University, January 2005

What will we need to address RBA? 1. Need advanced research skills 2. Need dedicated resources for capacity building in analysis, design, m&e, and reflective practice 3. Need to develop true collaborative relationships with southern research institutions, southern NGOs, and other legitimate social change partnerships Antioch University, January 2005

Moving Forward… Is the RBA focus on human rights and development truly a second order fundamental change or in a systems view, is it a short-term fix, diversion, that ultimately results in homeostatis? (Show systems loop. ) Antioch University, January 2005

References Peter Uvin, “Human rights and development”, 2004 Cathy Mc. Caston, Unifying Framework, CARE USA 2004 Microsoft Corporation Amartya Sen Antioch University, January 2005