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OVERVIEW

What is it?

Human rights apply universally to all people, regardless of their differences. Every human being is born free and equal in dignity and rights and should have the freedom to live a life of their choice, thrive socially and economically, and participate in public affairs. The Sustainable Development Goals are grounded in human rights, and the human rights-based approach (HRBA) supports their realisation.
HRBA is a method that applies five key working principles to advance human rights for all: meaningful and inclusive participation and access to decision-making; non-discrimination and equality; accountability and the rule of law for all; transparency and access to information, supported by disaggregated data.
By applying these principles, HRBA identifies states and their institutions as duty-bearers, those accountable for respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights. It also addresses individuals as rights-holders, empowering them to know, claim, and enjoy their rights.
The international human rights framework and its principles lie at the heart of the HRBA. It supports partner countries in meeting their human rights obligations and commitments, in accordance with the legally binding treaties and conventions they have ratified.
The HRBA aims to strengthen the capabilities of both duty-bearers and rights-holders towards the realisation of human rights. It also addresses key global challenges such as gender inequalities, climate change and environmental degradation, violations of children's rights, preserving peace and security, managing migration, and responding to crises such as pandemics.

What can it be used for?

The HRBA applies to all EU external actions, across all sectors and countries. By applying for the HRBA, interventions can achieve more relevant, equitable, and sustainable results.
The HRBA approach focuses on:

• Objectives: All interventions, policies, and technical assistance should contribute to the realisation of human rights, including women's rights and labour rights. Irrespective of the sector, country, or stakeholders involved, the HRBA advances the respect, protection, and fulfilment of human rights for everyone—women and men, girls and boys, in all their diversity.
• Processes: Rooted in human rights standards and the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the HRBA ensures that each phase of programming, design, and implementation of EU external actions upholds fundamental rights and freedoms. It is guided by five core principles: a) Applying all human rights for all; b) Ensuring meaningful and inclusive participation and access to decision-making; c) Promoting non-discrimination and equality; d) Upholding accountability and the rule of law for all; and e) Guaranteeing transparency and access to information, supported by disaggregated data.
• Outcomes: The expected results should enhance the capacity of duty-bearers to fulfil their obligations, and/or empower rights-holders to understand, claim, and fully enjoy their rights.

When can it be used?

The HRBA places equal emphasis on both the processes through which interventions are programmed, designed, and implemented, and the objectives they seek to achieve. By reinforcing national ownership and fostering meaningful participation, the HRBA ensures that the purpose and outcomes of EU external actions are effectively addressed.
Interventions aim to reduce inequalities and tackle human rights violations by strengthening the capacities of both rights-holders and duty-bearers. Rights-holders are individuals who possess entitlements and legitimate claims to their human rights; they are not merely passive beneficiaries, but active participants in development processes. Duty-bearers—primarily governments and state institutions—carry the responsibility to respect, promote, protect, and fulfil these rights.

Who can use it?

The HRBA should be applied by staff working in EU external action. It could also be used by all practitioners in all sectors and thematic areas.

What are its strengths?

The HRBA is grounded in a comprehensive framework of internationally agreed laws, norms, standards, and principles, as enshrined in the core human rights treaties. It affirms the universality of human rights and reinforces the obligation of States to uphold the legally binding treaties they have ratified.
This approach fully aligns with the European Union's commitment to leave no one behind, reduce inequalities—including gender inequality—and combat all forms of discrimination. The HRBA equips stakeholders with the tools to address human rights violations and the complex, often overlapping forms of discrimination faced by individuals living and working in vulnerable conditions.
Focusing on power imbalances, sources of discrimination, and the structural drivers of inequality—particularly in their most severe manifestations—the HRBA is applicable across all sectors and thematic areas, targeting the root causes of exclusion and injustice.
Throughout the cooperation cycle, the HRBA promotes inclusive and meaningful participation, enabling a deeper understanding of transformative pathways for change, the identification of priorities, and collaborative work with all stakeholders to achieve sustainable solutions. It ensures that the voices of those in the most vulnerable situations—such as persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ individuals, indigenous peoples, and members of minority ethnic groups—are recognised and meaningfully engaged.
The HRBA also reinforces the capacity of states and duty-bearers to fulfil their human rights and gender equality commitments, while simultaneously enhancing the ability of rights-holders to understand, claim, and enjoy their rights.
Finally, the HRBA emphasises the critical importance of collecting and using disaggregated data—by sex, age, and disability—to effectively monitor and evaluate the commitments made throughout the intervention cycle.

What are its limitations?

The HRBA addresses political sensitive issues that in some countries are difficult to promote, for example the rights of LGBTIQ people. Cultures and societies differ in values and norms, especially regarding gender equality. This can generate tension and resistance, internally at organisational level, as well as at intervention level. To address these challenges, the HRBA stresses the importance of consultation and dialogue, throughout the entire intervention cycle to find feasible, consensual solutions to the problems identified together with the different stakeholders.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Key elements

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It requires an analysis of human rights at stake in the country, of the capabilities of stakeholders, of the context and policy analysis. The HRBA requires applying the five working principles throughout the whole intervention cycle.

Data/information

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.No matter what sector or context, always begin by identifying the human rights at stake. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) provides key information on the human rights and gender equality situation of all UN member states. This repository includes reports on the implementation of international human rights treaties. 

Timeframe. N/A

Skills. N/A

Facilities and materials.See HRBA Toolbox.

Financial costs and sources. N/A

Tips and tricks.

EU RESOURCES

• The European Commission, (2023): Leaving No One Behind – Disability Inclusion in EU External Action Guidance Note on Disability Inclusion
• The European Commission, 2021.  The Human Rights Based Approach Toolkit 
• The European Commission, 2021. Commission Staff Working Document - Applying the Human Rights Based Approach to international partnerships
• INTPA Academy training: The Human Rights Based Approach Virtual Toolbox 

OTHER RESOURCES

• United Nations Sustainable Development Group (2003): UN Common Understanding on the Human Rights-Based Approach Statement of Common Understanding
• United Nations Human Rights Council: Universal Periodic Review (UPR) UPR Home Page 
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) CRPD Text 
• UN Treaty Bodies: Concluding Observations and Country Reports UN Treaty Body Database 
• UN Special Procedures: Country Visits by Special Rapporteurs Country Visits Overview 
• OHCHR: List of Issues and Human Rights Indicators Human Rights Indicators 
• Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs): Implementation of the 2030 Agenda VNR Programme 2025 
• Beijing Declaration: National Reports on Implementation East and Southern Africa Beijing+30 Reports 
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Group, 2003. UN Common Understanding on the Human Rights Based Approach  
• The United Nations - Human Right Council. Universal Periodic Review 
• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: CRPD 
• The Universal Periodic Review compiles detailed information on the human rights situation per country, including inputs from stakeholders and the UN system. The UPR is a state-driven process allowing countries to issue recommendations and report on actions taken to improve the human rights situation. 
• UN Treaty Bodies – issue reports or 'concluding observations' on the implementation of ratified treaties, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention of the Rights of the Child or the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Click here to access the country reports. 
• Reports from UN Special Procedures – for example the country visits by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism, or the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment. 
• The OHCHR website also provides relevant information in the "List of Issues". Find information on the topics of Human Rights Indicators, Migration, Water or Privacy and digital data, for example. This website also holds recent information of specific groups, such as Indigenous peoples, Children deprived of liberty or Persons with disabilities.
• Monitoring ILO Convention by Country: Regular reporting: ratified conventions (Art.22/35).
• Country data can also be found in the Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and national reports on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration.
  National statistical offices National Human Rights Institutes (NHRI) 
  
  

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