Rights Based Approach

The main approach of WPF is a rights-based approach to development.

A rights-based approach recognizes individuals as “rights-holders”, which implies that others are “duty-bearers”.
Duty bearers (governments, institutions and individuals) are obligated to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.
Rights holders are entitled to demand their own rights from duty bearers, but they also have to respect the rights of others.

Therefore, this approach promotes three main principles:
- the accountability of duty-bearers,
- the participation of rights-holders, and,
- equity / non-discrimination.

The primary role of a rights-based development organisation is to contribute to the fulfillment of human rights by getting duty-bearers to meet their obligations and by empowering poor and exploited people to claim their entitlements. This approach emphasizes the participation of individuals and communities in decision-making processes that shape policies and programs that affect them.