The online Gender and Rights Resource Guide enables non-governmental organisations to enhance their gender perspective on Rights Based Approaches (RBAs). The guide’s development has been informed by both literature and practices emerging from struggles for gender rights and equality.

Concepts and tools for development practice

The guide begins by demystifying the concept of rights in order to understand why approaches to human rights have often failed to further women’s rights or address gender inequality. It also proposes ways in which RBAs and Gender and Development Approaches (GAD) can be mutually enriching.

It clarifies concepts, introduces analytical tools, and identifies the implications of these concepts and tools for development practice, as well as providing relevant examples. The first version of this Resource Guide was launched in 2009, and the revised edition was published in 2013.

By presenting cognitive tools for integrating RBAs and GAD, the principles can then be applied to specific issues in development practice. The guide does not, however, set out precise steps that development practitioners should employ to bring about rights and equality in their day-to-day work. Neither does it answer specific operational questions. Instead, it sets out an analysis which can underpin operational decisions.

It also contains four Issue Briefs on relevant topics:

• Natural Resource Management
• Gender-Based Violence in Conflict Contexts
• Children and Young People
• Women’s Political Participation

The Resource Guide is organised so that, if read from start to finish, the reader will be introduced first to concepts, then to the implications for development practice and finally to the implications for organisations. This logical structure allows for the reader to develop their understanding before putting it into practice.