Development programs are an important contribution to progressively realize human rights. For this to occur, the partners in a development program need to have a clear human rights orientation or policy, backed up by a governance structure in the respective sector which is conducive to participation, non-discrimination, transparency and accountability.
The following assessment of the German-Cambodian Land Rights Program analyzes whether and how this development measure contributes to the progressive realization of human rights, in particular to the right to food and the right to housing. The program has had a clear human rights orientation since 2011; and even before that, the program has enabled a significant pro portion of Cambodians, particularly women, to gain access to secure land titles. However, the assessment also finds that the program needs to undertake significant efforts to reach other vulnerable groups and to increase its accountability vis-à-vis the Cambodian population.
