This paper gives development practitioners an introduction to the human rights-based approach (HRBA) to development. It describes the principles and characteristics of an HRBA, and outlines how our work in German governmental development agencies can be strengthened by using it. The Federal Republic of Germany has ratified the majority of the international human rights trea-ties which codify civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights. This obliges Germany to respect, protect, and promote human rights in its development cooperation.
