Human Rights in SDC work

Human Rights in SDC’s work

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."

Art. 1 UDHR

Human rights are at the heart of SDC's work. They stand for human dignity and equality; for participatory and inclusive societies that dismantle the structures of discrimination that drive poverty and inequality.

Based on the principles of universality, indivisibility and interdependence of rights, the SDC has the ambition to work on the whole spectrum of rights (eg. civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights), while ensuring that the prevailing (e.g. the highest) relevant human rights standards guide our programming interventions.

SDC Guidance on Human Rights in Development and Cooperation (EN/FR/DE)

SDC HRBA Tools & How to Notes (H2N)

H2N Human Rights and Communication: this note shall provide SDC staff with key elements for communication on effective and conflict-sensitive communication on human rights as part of the human rights based approach. This document complements the FCHR H2N on Human Rights in Policy Dialogue.

H2N Human Rights in Policy Dialogue: this note shall provide SDC staff with key elements for communication on human rights in policy dialogue at different levels as part of the human rights based approach. This document complements the FCHR H2N on Human Rights and Communication.

HRBA LNOB Factsheet: this note aims to clarify the links between the Human Rights Based Approach to development and the objective to Leave No One Behind. It outlines the human rights basis of the overarching commitment of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the related legal obligation to Leave No One Behind. It emphasizes how this pledge can contribute substantially to the realization of human rights for all.

HRBA to PCM: this work tool is aimed to complement and help the implementation of the SDC Guidance on Human Rights (2019). It contains key questions for each cycle of SDC programme management and shall assist SDC staff to concretely apply the HRBA in PCM.

HRBA to Justice Sector Support: this work tool provides insight and guidance on what it means to apply an HRBA to justice sector support programming at large. It builds among others upon SDC’s Justice Capex from 2016 as well as on international good practices presented at the world justice forum.

SDC Human Rights projects

Right to decent, just and favourable working conditions

Right to food

Right to education / Children's rights

Right to access to justice

SDC sectoral human rights programs:

Support to national and regional human rights institutions

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Other relevant SDC publications