Human rights

'Deeply rooted' in EU development policy

‘Humanity will not enjoy security without development, it will not enjoy development without security, and it will not enjoy either without respect for human rights.’ In Larger Freedom, United Nations, 2005

The European Commission is refocusing its efforts to increase aid impact, concentrate on fewer sectors and focus on countries most in need. In October 2011, EU Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, presented the ‘Agenda for Change’ of EU development policy and a new policy for EU budget support.

More attention will be given to a country’s record on democratic governance, particularly regarding human rights and gender – moving the EU from ‘aid effectiveness’ to ‘development effectiveness’.

'Smart conditionality'

Human rights must be ‘deeply rooted’ in the EU’s approach to development, according to Commissioner Piebalgs. ‘[This] is not a romantic vision of development or human rights. It is a pragmatic vision. It is about developing smart conditionality. It is about concretely responding to the new standards that are emerging.’

The Commissioner, addressing the European Parliament’s inter-parliamentary committee meeting with national parliaments in October 2011, pointed to the lessons learned from recent events in Northern Africa. ‘Human rights, democracy and good governance will be given greater weight in determining the ways and means of providing assistance,’ he said.

Already, the EU’s five-year-old European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), has made a significant difference and important progress in consolidating democracy by supporting pro-democracy activists and defenders around the world, often operating where cooperation with government authorities is suspended and without the host country’s consent.

A multidimensional approach

Commissioner Piebalgs called for a multidimensional approach to addressing human rights violations: political dialogue, sanctions, and financial and technical cooperation to promote the human rights agenda. A crosscutting issue is the coherence of EU development actions.

EDD11 was held in Warsaw, Poland, 15-16 December 2011. The theme was ‘Development and Democracy’. www.eudevdays.eu

High-Level Panels at EDD 11

Panels which focused on Human Rights and Development

December 15

Agenda for Change – Human Rights

December 16

The human rights-based approach to development - Experience from
the right to adequate housing

Preventing another Famine in the Horn of Africa

Migration, Development and Human Rights – Changing Paradigm in EU Development Policy

Related links:

Read EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs’ speech to the European Parliament

Learn more about the EU’s European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights