Poverty eradication and good governance Why human rights matter

good governance and human rights: what’s the difference? Good governance Defined by policy and practice Focus on institutions Subject to national policy and experience Progressive Human rights Defined by international law Focus on people Universal Indivisible

Good governance and human rights: how are they related? Without good governance, human rights are only “paper rights” Without human rights, governance cannot be good Commonalities: rule of law; participation; transparency; inclusiveness; responsive; accountable Outcome oriented Service to people – the servant leader

Poverty and economic growth Income poverty is only one aspect about poverty People are poor because they are deprived of basic needs Are basic needs human rights? economic and social rights what’s the policy benefit?

Poverty is not only about -$$$ Deprivation – the lack of basic needs Discrimination – inequality and marginalization Insecurity – physical, job, food, land tenure, housing Voicelessness – excluded from power

deprivation insecurity discrimination denial of voice poverty

deprivation: economic & social rights insecurity: rights to physical integrity and social security Discrimination: right to equal protection denial of voice: participatory rights development

Impediments to poverty eradication Participation of the poor is not respected in planning and delivery Law and systems do not work for the poor Civil and political rights are disregarded Development actors (state, NGO or corporate) are not transparent/accountable There is too much investment in institutions, not enough on empowerment

When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. But when I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist. Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Brazil

Supply vs. demand of human rights Investing in institutions –state, government & political party Empowering citizens –Civil society; NGOs and business Case study: Lokpal vs. FOI movement in India

Why rights matter: Universality: equal in rights and dignity Human focus: not economic outcomes but impact on people’s lives Inclusive: “who is being left behind?” Economic and social rights: structural equality in a market economy Empowerment & accountability