International Organisations, states and NGOs increasingly use a „human rights-based approach“ to development to enhance key aspects such as participation and the rule of law in their operational activities with partner countries. According to the human rights-based approach to development, every person is a holder of rights. These rights are stipulated in international human rights conventions and binding upon states. Consequently, development cooperation is not based on charity and good-will by states but is an entitlement of every individual as a rights-holder.
The human rights-based approach to development has a central role in the cooperation of BIM with the Austrian Development Agency. In this cooperation, BIM provides consultancy in the areas of human rights, good governance, conflict transformation and peace-building. A key are in this regard is the implementation of child rights in the Austrian development cooperation. Since a couple of years, the topic of persons with disabilities and development cooperation is on the BIM agenda as well. Besides consultancies and training for ADA in this area, BIM has a monitoring function in the project „Inclusive Tanzania“ of the NGO Light-for-the-World.
In direct operationalisation of the human rights-based approach to development, BIM implements a project on poverty reduction and human rights in Macedonia.
Regarding selected areas of human rights and development as well as the topic in general, BIM offers trainings and workshops for NGOs and other interested institutions. Current cooperations include activities with UNDP, Amnesty Austria, CARE, FIAN, and SOS Kinderdorf.
The Seminar on Georgia and Peaceful Conflict Resolution, organised by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation in cooperation with BIM, held in Vienna on September 25th 2012 has brought together representatives of all three regions – Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia, as well as experts – scholars and practitioners working on conflict resolution in Georgia. During the Seminar Sabine Mandl and Christine Sommer, researchers from BIM, were talking about "The role of women and civil society in peacebuilding".
The Eurasia Partnership Foundation is going to organize, in cooperation with the Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, and the Bosch Foundation the seminar
“Georgia’s conflicts: The Road to Peace-building”
at Diplomatic Academy in Vienna on September 25, 2012
"Promoting Human Rights - Empowering Civil Society"
The conference takes place from 25 to 27 June in Vienna at the Diplomatic Academy. You are able to participate either a) at the Conference (2,5 days), or b) only at the Evening Event or c) at both events (Conference + Evening Event).
On 12.12.2010, the Macedonian Anti Poverty Platform (MAPP), supported by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human rights, BIM-FV Skopje, executed a massive fundraising event – a Telethon – supporting the needs of children at risk, the children of the street.
On November 16th the president and three judges of the Bhutanese Supreme Court (Hon'ble Chief Justice Sonam Tobgye an well as Hon'ble Judges Rinzin Gyaltshen, Tshering Wangchuk and Rinzin Penjore) visited the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights during a project supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) about the advancement of the Bhutanese judiciary. The representatives of Bhutan, wich is a key region of the Austrian Development Cooperation, were thus accompanied by Mag.Georg Huber-Grabenwarter (ADA).
The BIM and the Austrian Development Cooperation quarterly issue a newsletter in German on ongoing projects concerning Austrian Development Cooperation, peacebuilding and conflict prevention.