3 3. PROMOTING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS THROUGH A HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT PROMOTING ­REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS THROUGH A HUMAN RIGHTS-­BASED APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT A Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) can be defined as a conceptual and analytical framework that integrates human rights norms, standards and principles into all development work. The United Nations Statement of Common Understanding of Human Rights-Based Approach to development cooperation and programming includes: 1. All programmes of development cooperation, policies and technical assistance should further the realization of human rights as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments. 2. Human rights standards contained in, and principles derived from, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments guide all development cooperation and programming in all sectors and in all stages of the programming process. 3. Development cooperation contributes to the development of the capacities of ‘duty-bearers’ to meet their obligations and of ‘right-holders’ to claim their rights. In addition, UNFPA includes the key elements of cultural sensitivity and gender-responsiveness within its understanding of a HRBA to programming.1 In a HRBA to programming, all development efforts pursue a desirable outcome through a legitimate process. In a HRBA to development, human rights standards define the desirable outcome, and human rights principles ensure the legitimacy of the process. In that sense a HRBA offers objective criteria in defining both the ends and means of development efforts. HRBA is based on a list of basic human rights principles developed by the United Nations that are of consequence for development initiatives. The principles that form the fundamental basis of a HRBA are: • Universality, inalienability, and indivisibility of human rights; • Interdependence and inter-relatedness; • Equality and non-discrimination; • Participation and inclusion; and • Accountability and rule of law. 1 UNFPA A Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming, 2010, p. 70. This whole chapter owes much to Module 2 of the said publication. 75