Download or print a copy of the full Introductory Guide to HRIA (PDF file).
The Aim of HRIA
The purpose of a Human Rights Impact Assessment is to prevent negative impacts and to maximise positive impacts regarding to human rights. At the same time, the process of conducting an assessment increases knowledge about human rights and helps to build capacities to use a human rights framework. Also, it helps to identify the impact of a policy, program or project and it helps to voice concerns more effectively.
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HRIA is based on the normative framework of international human rights law laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international Covenants on Civil and Political rights, and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. When you make a Human Rights Impact Assessment you link the impact of laws, measures, policies & practices on human rights to the human rights obligations of your state (Lenzen and d’Engelbronner, 2009: 9).
Human Rights Impact Assessments examine a wide range of different activities from the human rights perspective, including the impact of: development programmes of foreign governments on beneficiary countries; the impact of government policy and legislation on domestic protection of human rights; the human rights impact of multinational companies (MNCs); and the extent to which human rights-related non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have achieved their policy aims and objectives (Harrison and Goller, 2008: 588).
Ex Ante and Ex Post
An impact assessment can be ex ante (before an activity takes places), or ex post (after the activity has taken place). Ex ante HRIAs aim to identify the potential impact of activities to prevent human rights violations. It is important to carry out the HRIA at the earliest possible stage so that the outcome can be incorporated in the decision making process (Lenzen and d’Engelbronner, 2007: 19-20). Ex post HRIAs aim to determine the actual impact of activities or policies on human rights.
References
Harrison, J. and Goller, A. 2008. ‘Trade and Human Rights: What Does ‘Impact Assessment’ Have to Offer?’. Human Rights Law Review 8 (4): 587–615.
Lenzen, O. and d’Engelbronner, M. 2007. ‘Best Practice Guide to the Human Rights Compliance Assessment’. Aim for human rights.
Lenzen, O. and d’Engelbronner, M. 2009. ‘Guide to Corporate Human Rights Impact Assessment Tools’. Aim for human rights.