Despite the limitations and problems associated with development, the term and associated actions are present and ongoing. Approaching “development” cautiously then, let us consider what a human rights approach means for development. Does it help address some of the concerns outlined by Estava? The FAO uses the acronym PANTHER to coordinated a development approach that is consistent with human rights.
  • Participation
  • Accountability
  • Non-discrimination and attention to vulnerable groups
  • Transparency
  • Human Dignity
  • Empowerment
  • Rule of law
Before moving on to a discussion on the what a human rights approach means for development, I think it is important to reflect on what development means, where it comes from and some of the implications associated with this very political and politicized term. In the book The Development Dictionary: A Guide to Power as Knowledge, Gustavo Esteva (2001:8) warns that “development occupies the centre of an incredible powerful semantic constellation.” Esteva is suggesting that our application and use of the term necessitates careful reflection because in saying “development”, most people end up saying the opposite of what they intend to convey (Esteva 2001:6).
Since we are on the subject of the right to food: Press Release FIAN International FIAN calls for seed trade regulations to respect right to food Heidelberg, April 15th  2011 - On the International Day of Peasants’ Struggle, April 17th, FIAN joins millions of peasants in demanding the  European Union respect their right to adequate food in the regulation of the seed trade. Online at http://www.fian.org/news/press-releases/respect-right-to-food-regulate-seed-trade FIAN calls on the European Union to meet its commitments to human rights, and specifically the right to food, by facilitating and strengthening people's access to productive resources including land, water and seeds.

*I have updated this post with some more information about the history of human rights within the UN system.* [caption id="attachment_423" align="alignleft" width="141" caption="UN Human Rights Council logo"][/caption] As I mentioned yesterday,...

I have been a bad blogger. I went home for the first time in over two years and decided to spend as much time as I could away from my...