Rights-based approaches issues for NGOs

A recent increase of publications, training courses, conferences, and policy statements on rights-based approaches shows the importance being attached to the concept by development professionals. Despite this, there is no universally agreed definition of what constitutes a rights-based approach, nor do the implications of adopting such an approach appear to have been comprehensively questioned. This article seeks to explore some of the key issues associated with the adoption of a rights-based approach that are relevant to NGOs.