Making the rights of poor people practical in Malawi through a rights based approach to development

Abstract

This thesis tackles the issue of human rights and poverty in the context of Malawi. Our main concern is to find ways of how to make human rights practical for poor people in Malawi through a human rights-based approach to development. Our thesis has therefore examined the normative framework of human rights and development. It has also examined priorities of poor communities and how they can be met and sustained. Further, the issue of how these communities can build their capacities and participate in development to enable them realize their rights, is discussed. We argue that the idea of a society where all human rights are respected is farfetched when poverty erodes rights of poor people. Poor people are in a majority and are a marginalized group who have difficulties to claim or demand their rights. The right to development is therefore seen as a way to address the needs, rights and priorities of large sections of the population. This we propose should be through a human rights-based approach to development.