Prioritise human rights in SDGs implementation, gov't urged

Sep 21, 2018

The 17 SDGs, which came into effect in January 2016, are a universal call to action to end poverty and protect the planet.

Scholars and human rights defenders have said the Government should employ a human rights based approach in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 17 SDGs, which came into effect in January 2016, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

The SDGs build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, but include new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, peace and justice, among others.

The UN member countries are expected to implement the goals through respective national programmes over a period of 15 years, ending in 2030.

Dr. Christopher Mbazira, the principal at the school of law of Makerere University, said the human rights based approach would be critical in achieving the SDGs, which seek to leave no one behind in development under the current global (development) framework.

"The approach is good because it seeks to get development programmes implemented in a non-discriminatory manner and it promotes accountability, monitoring and evaluation," he added.

The approach is promoted by various development agencies and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of government programmes. The approach, according to its advocates, blurs the distinction between human rights and economic development. It also seeks to strengthen the capacity of duty bearers and empower the rights holders.

"This approach should be at the centre of the development process for us to able to realize the economic, social and economic rights," Mbazira said during the 5th conference on economic, social and cultural rights at Makerere University on Thursday.

The conference is an initiative of the university's law school under the Public Law Interest Clinic to bring stakeholders together to advocate for economic, social and cultural rights.

The chairman of Uganda Human Rights Commission, Medi Kaggwa, said economic and cultural rights is one of the fields that the institution is now focusing on in its activities.

"We have realized people are more concerned about their economic and cultural rights. The SDGs implementers need to focus on this area and the goals should be implemented fully," he stated.

The chairperson of the Kenyan national commission on human rights, Kagwiria Mbagari, said the human rights based approach should be embraced by all development actors to achieve inclusive transformation.

"This is a clarion call; we are talking of leaving no one behind, and that is why this approach needs to be embraced by all of us," she added.
 

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