The Challenge
Human Rights and Development
Human Rights are universal and indivisible. The implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of other international human rights instruments is of paramount importance in order that the universal nature of the rights set down in these can become a reality. While there is a specific debate about the right to development, the enjoyment of all human rights, civil, cultural, economic, political and social, is essential for development. Equally, development is essential to enable the full enjoyment of those rights. Irish Aid programmes and projects should further the realisation of human rights. It is the duty of all states to protect and promote human rights. International human rights standards, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other instruments, apply to both donor and recipient countries. Under these international obligations, governments are primarily responsible both for creating the conditions in which rights can be realised and for ensuring that rights are not violated. No part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses. However, the risk of rights violations is greater where political, economic and administrative systems are weak. Our assistance is helping to strengthen those systems and complements Ireland’s efforts to ensure the prevention and punishment of mass human rights atrocities via the international criminal justice system and, in particular, the International Criminal Court. In so doing, we are working to promote and protect human rights.
WHITE PAPER ON IRISH AID
Spending on development is spending on human rights. In providing access to education, health services, clean water, housing and better government, Irish Aid is helping some of the most marginalised people in some of the most marginalised societies in the world to realise their rights every day. Our assistance is bringing to life, in a practical way, the language of rights. We also support specific actions designed to promote human rights, including by strengthening government systems and in-country human rights institutions, in particular through legal training. We provide support for Africa-wide efforts in this area, including through the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). We have provided significant financial support to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights since its establishment. Ireland will continue to be a strong supporter, including financially, of the UN’s human rights machinery. At the Millennium Review Summit in September 2005, UN members committed themselves to replacing the Commission on Human Rights with a new Human Rights Council, and on 15 March 2006 the General Assembly adopted the resolution establishing the Council. Ireland, along with our EU partners, will work to ensure that this new body offers an effective new framework for the promotion and protection of human rights.
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