Citation

Appiagyei-Atua K. J. Hum. Secur. 2008; 3(2): 4-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Librello Publishing)

DOI

10.3316/JHS0302004

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper adopts a rights-based approach to analysing poverty and development in the less industrialised world. This approach links up with the poverty production (as opposed to poverty reduction) debate, which contends that the proper framework for analysing poverty is to understand that agents, not institutions or processes, are responsible for generating poverty. The link between poverty production and human rights is established by the fact that the process or means adopted to produce poverty and the end result of the process both lead to violations of human rights. Therefore, it is contended that the starting point for the analysis of the relationship between human rights and poverty production is to understand the socio-political environment in which poverty production thrives.

One of the paper's recommendations is that the existing rights framework found in the constitutions of countries coming out of non-democratic to liberal democratic regimes be reexamined and reforms made to enable the establishment of a people-centred and indigenised approach to exercise of rights.