Millennium Development Goals and Human Rights: Faraway, so Close?

Abstract

The objective of this article is to identify some key dimensions for a human rights-based approach (HRBA) in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) monitoring processes. We aim to highlight not only how this can bring human rights and the MDGs closer to each other, but also how it can contribute to better results in the achievement of the latter. Within this framework, the article describes how a HRBA could contribute to redressing the main weaknesses of the MDGs and gives an overview of good practices and challenges in incorporating a HRBA into the MDG monitoring processes in Latin American and Caribbean countries, with a particular focus on the preparation of MDG reports.Millenium Development Goals, Development, Human rights, Human rights based approach, Latin America and the Caribbean, MDG Monitoring,

Asset Accumulation: An Alternative Approach to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals

“…With probable exceptions such as Cecchini and Notti (2011) that analyse the MDGs through the lens of a rights-based approach, or McGregor and Sumner (2010) that use a tridimensional well-being approach to evaluate them, studies generally do not make their MDG assessments through an explicit theoretical framework. Furthermore, studies also seem to miss alternative policy guidelines grounded on conceptual frameworks that could shed light on how to overcome the operational constraints that impede MDG achievement.…”

“…Recent studies, however, stress that it is unlikely that all the MDG targets will be achieved by 2015, given a series of conceptual and operational constraints in their design and implementation strategies (Poku and Whitman, 2011;Vandemoortele, 2011). In many countries international donors and governments have failed to take account of not only the political, social and cultural dimensions of poverty (Cecchini and Notti, 2011), but also more complex targets such as promoting gender equality or improving the lives of urban slum dwellers (Fukuda-Parr, 2010). While criticism of the MDGs is widespread, innovative ideas on how to address these challenges effectively are still incipient.…”

“…According to different studies, these constraints are not coincidental but the result of logical contradictions intrinsic in the design of the MDGs. For example, the rights-based approach contends that the MDGs actually deal with a very limited body of social, economic, political and cultural rights, and some targets do not correspond to human-rights standards (Cecchini and Notti, 2011). Others argue that the MDGs not only ignore the local and global structural causes of poverty such as discrimination or social exclusion (Fischer, 2010;Saith, 2006), but are often irrelevant to the situation of specific countries or subregions within countries (Chibba, 2011).…”

“…In addition, MDG implementation is widely considered to be 'technocratic' and 'top-down' and does not take sufficient account of the voices and actions of the poor themselves (McGregor and Sumner, 2010). The need for a more contextualised and realistic MDG approach which is responsive to the actual needs and priorities of the poor is also stressed (Cecchini and Notti, 2011;McGregor and Sumner, 2010). Finally, there is a lack of legally binding accountability mechanisms that secure a successful cross-country achievement of the MDGs (Gore, 2010).…”

Empowering People in the Business Frontline: The Ruggie’s Framework and the Capability Approach

“…The idea of reading the RF, as a corporate responsibility approach, through the lenses of the CA, is inspired in previously related endeavours. One of them is a collection of works connecting human rights and CA in the study of human development (Sen, 1984(Sen, , 2005Nussbaum, 2000Nussbaum, , 2011Vizard, Fukuda-Parr, & Elson, 2011, p. 2;Burchardt & Vizard, 2011;Cecchini & Notti, 2011;Drydyk, 2011;Osmani, 2005). Second, and closely related, this is consistent with the shift in the human rights law and jurisprudence "from a paradigm based on non-interference and non-intervention, to a substantive understanding of human rights based on the notions of human flourishing and positive duty."…”