The International Journal of Human Rights Vol. 13, No. 1, February 2009, 29–43
The Millennium Development Goals and the human rights based approach: reflecting on structural chasms with the United Nations system Elvira Domı´nguez Redondo Department of Law, Middlesex University, London Security, development and human rights are identified as the three pillars of the UN. However, it seems that in practice there is no political will to ensure the complementarity of these three elements. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the impact that the structure of the organisation has had on the separate development of the two discourses, namely that of development and human rights. This is arguably reflected at all levels of the organisation, and is most clearly visible in the recent attempt towards reforming the United Nations on the occasion of its 60th anniversary. Keywords: Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); human rights based approach; UN reform; UN special procedures
Introduction At the theoretical level it can be argued that the interdependence between security, development and human rights has been well founded and established by scholars of different disciplines.1 Furthermore, it would appear that the significant challenge of the current state of affairs in the international community lies in finding a way to appropriately address these three issues in a concerted manner. In the words of Charlotte McClainNhalpo: what is needed is sustainable economic growth, which must focus on the poor, with human rights at the centre. In short, a comprehensive approach and a coordinated strategy that tackles many problems simultaneously across a broad front.2
After stressing the fact that ‘all paradigm shifts in the development of human rights were the result of human rights disasters’ (such as the Nazi Holocaust, the apartheid or the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina), Manfred Nowak states that: I am afraid that the present human rights violations (increasing poverty, undermining of human rights by counter-terrorism strategies etc.) need to further deteriorate until governments finally wake up and realise that the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and the safeguarding of human security demand a new paradigm shift in the protection of human rights.3
Email: E.Dominguez-Redondo@mdx.ac.uk
ISSN 1364-2987 print/ISSN 1744-053X online # 2009 Taylor & Francis DOI: 10.1080/13642980802532317 http://www.informaworld.com