Human rights define mimimum requirements for a life in freedom and dignity. They are a prerequisite for well-being and peace worldwide. Being so, development cooperation can only be successful if it is complemented by human rights.

In May 2011, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) published its new human rights policy which highlights the strategic relevance of human rights: It defines Human Rights as leading principle and cross-sectional task of German development cooperation.

In order to meet this challenging task, the BMZ has commissioned the GIZ to implement the project “Realizing Human Rights in Development Cooperation”. The project offers support to the BMZ and its implementing agencies in order to strengthen human rights in all fields of action.

One outstanding outcome was achieved whilst advising the German-Kenyan water programme: after the instalment of public water taps, also the extremely poor have access to safe drinking water in urban slums in Kenya. Hence, their right to water was realised.

The project works in close cooperation with the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR). Part of this cooperation was the establishment of a comprehensive information portal by the DIMR regarding Human Rights and Development Cooperation:

German Institute for Human Rights

www.institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de/en/...