Human rights and poverty reduction

Abstract

Over the last ten to fifteen years economic and social rights have become part of development discourse and social policy debates in developed countries. One of the core objectives of a rights-based approach is to invert the power relationship between policy-makers, service providers and those with experience of poverty. This paper examines the extent to which the values which underpin a rights-based approach are consistent with the values of those such an approach is designed to help, arguing that the values underpinning a rights-based approach are somewhat, but not wholly, consistent with the values of those with experience of poverty. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of this finding for policy-makers and service delivery agencies.