Twentieth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

The human rights community-led development (HRCLD) approach has been developed from several theoretical and practice frameworks – human rights, community-led development and participatory action research. A human rights approach focuses on the relationships among and between individuals, groups, communities and the State. Whilst acknowledging the community as a system, and the individual and collective rights and responsibilities of all, the human rights approach prioritises the experiences and voices of those most vulnerable to human rights violations. Community-led development is about building the capacity of communities to identify their own visions and goals and to work together to develop strategic priorities, generate locally owned solutions and monitor outcomes. Participatory action research is about communities engaging in research processes that deepen the knowledge and understanding of a particular situation or set of situations. Human rights community-led development therefore is about facilitating structures and processes in communities that encourage the active involvement of people in the human rights issues that affect their lives. It works to strengthen the ability of individuals, groups and communities to identify, examine, verify, document and monitor local human rights violations and advocate more effectively for the realisation of the community’s human rights priorities. It ensures deep and meaningful intervention through cycles of planning, action and reflection. This paper overviews the HRCLD approach, grounds it in case studies, and ask questions about what this means for our work and lives.