GI-ESCR discusses human rights based approach to development at InterAction Forum 2012

The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) participated at the InterAction Forum 2012.  The annual InterAction Forum is one of the largest gatherings of international development and humanitarian professionals in the United States. The GI-ESCR provided a perspective from the human rights community on a panel entitled Rights-Based Approaches in Practice: Evidence of Realized Potential. Concrete examples of the efficacy of the human rights based approach to development were examined and a call for deeper collaboration between the human rights, and in particular economic, social and cultural rights, community and the development sector was made, including for a more robust, concerted and focused push to include human rights at the core of any post-2015 development framework.

Rights Based Approaches in Practice: Evidence of Realized Potential (Jefferson) This workshop focuses on the conceptual and practical aspects of rights-based approaches to development, and highlights how these approaches serve to strengthen and improve development outcomes.  To begin, this panel addresses the meaning of rights-based approaches, and explores avenues for deepened cross-sector collaboration between the human rights and development communities, with a spotlight on the achievement of economic, social and cultural rights.  Additionally, this session presents the generally positive results of two independent evaluations of rights-based program effectiveness. This new evidence from the field supports the case in favor of rights-based approaches to development for donors, practitioners and advocates.

Moderator: Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken, Director for Education and Practitioner Engagement, Transnational NGO Initiative at the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, Syracuse University

Speakers: Bret Thiele, Co-Executive Director, The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Elise Young, Senior Policy Analyst, Haiti International Campaign Coordinator, ActionAid USA Justin Fugle, Senior Program Manager, Plan USA