The European Union , as the largest development donor in the world (55% of global Official Development Aid), is committed to ensuring that "Human Rights are a priority of the EU Development Cooperation ", as stated by the EU Commissioner for Development Louis Michel. This framework for delivering on human rights obligations in the context of development assistance is known as human rights based approaches to development , HRBA. HRBA is a process which applies a number of core principles (i.e. expressly apply the international legal framework, empowerment, participation, non-discrimination and accountability) aimed at ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by all.

To explore how the EU understands and integrates the human rights based approaches in its external aid policies and programmes, Terre des Hommes International Federation, in partnership with Amnesty International EU office and Action Aid International, is promoting a research done by the International Human Rights Network (IHRN) . This research will result in a Briefing Paper (June 2008) that on the one hand has an external focus, on the other hand emphasizes that the five principles of HRBA apply equally to all areas of EU & EC activity. Finally, it will outline a number of recommendations for civil society development actors, the EC and its institutions as well as EU member states and development partner states. In her advocacy work, TDHIF is promoting in particular HRBA to Development, to create the opportunity to insert a focus on Child Rights in EU development Aid.

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