Human Rights Mainstreaming Guideline
Principles
The following principles form the basis of NZAID’s human rights mainstreaming policy. Application of these principles should ensure NZ lives up to its own human rights obligations, and supports partners to fulfil their obligations in a way that enhances the outcomes sought by NZAID programmes. These principles underpin NZAID efforts to pursue human rights in order to ensure better development outcomes and reduce risk.
At least do no harm - NZAID should never act in any way which is in breach of human rights commitments it has made, and should apply this same standard to its behaviour in developing countries, no matter whether they have signed up to the relevant convention. All policies, strategies and activities should be screened to ensure that they do not inadvertently impact negatively on the ability of partner governments to fulfil their human rights obligations, or participants’ ability to exercise their rights.
Participation and inclusion - This is an important factor in managing risk and improving outcomes. The consequences of failing to provide meaningful opportunities to participate in development processes to those affected by them are well-documented. NZAID is committed to local ownership and undertakes stakeholder analysis to ensure consultation is inclusive and opportunities to participate are meaningful. NZAID takes steps to ensure that in its eagerness to help it does not inadvertently seize control or disempower local partners.
Accountability - NZAID needs to ensure that lines of accountability are clear, appropriate, and monitored. This includes domestic accountability of NZAID to taxpayers through parliament, as well as to our partners (a.k.a mutual accountability). It relates to ensuring accountability within partner countries is appropriate, and aligning with this wherever possible. Where necessary, additional support may be required to these accountability systems, particularly as a part of sector support programmes. This is not just important to risk management, but also to securing sustainable outcomes. Obligations for protecting and safeguarding human rights fall mostly on states but, as a donor agency whose actions may affect human rights, NZAID also has a degree of accountability.
Non-discrimination - NZAID-supported activities should be non-discriminatory and incorporate measures to facilitate access by groups which may otherwise be excluded. This is particularly so in fragile situations, where non-discrimination is an important basis for building inclusive and stable societies. Programme managers will need to ensure that stakeholder analysis identifies groups which may be disadvantaged, and that the ability of these groups to access services/benefits is monitored in programme monitoring frameworks. This will require the collection of appropriately disaggregated data, which should at the very least, be disaggregated by gender.