A Human Rights Based Approach: An Option for Attaining Sustainable Development in Cameroon

Abstract: This dissertation discusses the importance of human rights to the attainment of development. All human rights are indivisible, whether they are civil and political rights, such as the right to life, equality before the law and freedom of expression; economic, social and cultural rights. “The central goal of Development has and will be the promotion of human well-being. Given that human rights define and defend human well-being, a rights-based approach to development provides both the conceptual and practical framework for the realization of human rights through the development process”. Cornwall and Musembi P. 1425. A Human-Rights-Based-Approach (HRBA) became a trending paradigm in the field of development since the 1980s and 1990s. Now, key organisations like the United Nations Organisation (UNO), African Union (AU) and the World Bank attest that HRBA is indispensable to sustainable development. This dissertation identifies some gaps between policy and practice in Cameroon and proposes a HRBA to development as a toll that spur up sustainable development if dutifully applied. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. I also discuss factor such as corruption, bad government and embezzlement which if dealt with, enhance development.