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Title: Impact Assessments, Poverty and Human Rights: A Case Study Using The Right to the Highest Attainanble Standard of Health

Author(s): Hunt, Paul; MacNaughton, Gillian

Publisher: (2006) UNESCO:Paris [France]

Pages: 1-65

The report presents a methodology for impact assessment in two parts:

First part presents general principles for performing a human rights-based impact assessment;
Second part proposes six steps for integrating the right to health, as a starting point for all human rights, into existing impact assessments.

In presenting the methodology the report:

Gives an introduction into the concept of impact assessment;
Emphasises the role of human rights impact assessment in allevating poverty;
Draws on criteria from three human rights impact assessment initiatives:

The final section of the report proposes follow-up activities.

This report is a discussion paper, it is open for comment and further elaboration.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

I. Introduction

II. Impact Assessments
A. Definitions
B. Objectives
C. Added Value of Human Rights
1. Legal Obligations
2. Coherence
3. Effectiveness

III. A Human Rights Approach
A. H uman Rights and Poverty Reduction
B. Three Case Studies on Human Rights Impact Assessment
1. NORAD Handbook in Human Rights Assessment
2. Rights & Democracy Initiative on Human Rights Impact Assessment
3. HOM Health Rights of Women Assessment Instrument
4. Discussion of the Three Approaches

IV. A Case Study: Impact Assessment and the Right to Health
A. Health and Poverty
B. The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health
C. Right-to-Health Framework for the Impact Assessment

1. Seven General Principles for Rights-Based Impact Assessments
(1) Explicit Human Rights Framework
(2) Progressive Realization
(3) Equality and Non-Discrimination
(4) Participation
(5) Information
(6) Accountability
(7) Inter-dependence of Rights

2. Six Steps for Integrating the Right to Health into Impact Assessments
Step 1: Preliminary Check
Step 2: Assessment Plan
Step 3: Information Collection
Step 4: Rights Analysis
Step 5: Debate Options
Step 6: Decision and Evaluation

V. Conclusions and Follow Up to this Report
A. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health
B. Other Suggestions for Follow up to this Report
C. Methodologies for Human Rights Impact Assessment
D. Case Studies on Integrating Human Rights into Impact Assessment
E. Practical Tools for Incorporating Human Rights in Impact Assessment
F. Lobby for Human Rights in Impact Assessment

Bibliography

Annex 1
Step 1: Preliminary Checklist

Annex 2
Step 2: Time Table
Step 2: What is human rights-based impact assessment?
Step 2: What is the right to health?

Annex 3
Step 3: Guideline Questionnaire A
AAAQ Health Care
Step 3: Guideline Questionnaire B
AAAQ Underlying Determinants of Health
Step 3: Guideline Questionnaire C
Six Human Rights Concepts for Health Care
Step 3: Guideline Questionnaire D
Six Human Rights Concepts for Underlying Determinants of Health

Annex 4
Step 4: Guide to Rights Analysis
Health facilities, goods and services
Underlying determinants of health

Online Source(s)

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Language	Format	Source Title
English	PDF document	Impact assessments, Poverty and Human Rights

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