No development without human rights

Rohingya children playing with a doll at a refugee camp in Bangladesh.
The SDC gives high priority to protecting the rights of vulnerable groups such as the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. © Anna Dubuis / DFID

Sustainable development is only possible if fundamental human rights principles such as non-discrimination, participation, and the rule of law are respected. These rights form the basis of international cooperation. This is why the promotion of human rights is a key issue for the SDC.

SDC focus

The realization of human rights is a foreign policy objective anchored in the Federal Constitution. Swiss human rights foreign policy focuses on the following three priorities:

  • The protection and promotion of civil and political rights, for example access to justice free of discrimination and participation in political processes
  • The protection and promotion of economic, social and cultural rights, such as the right to education or health
  • The protection of the rights of especially vulnerable groups.

The SDC contributes to the implementation of the human rights policy by promoting the rights of the poor and supporting governments in their efforts to respect, protect and promote these rights. SDC's programmes on fighting poverty actively promote human rights.

Working with the human rights approach

The SDC works with a human-rights-based approach. In addition to international standards, which give legitimacy to development cooperation, the SDC promotes the following human rights principles:

  • Equal rights and non-discrimination
  • Participation and support in asserting human rights (empowerment)
  • Responsibility for human rights violations, accountability and redress
  • Indivisibility and universality.

The SDC undertakes to systematically include questions of rights, for example in the fields of migration or labour law, in its programmes in all its partner countries. It uses a human rights approach to help people ("rights holders") to exercise and demand their rights. At the same time, it assists state and non-state institutions ("duty bearers") in their efforts to adhere to their obligation to ensure respect for and the protection of human rights.

Strengthening state institutions and promoting the rights of vulnerable groups

Fragility, armed conflicts and human rights violations – which tend to become mutually reinforcing like in a vicious cycle – hinder the fight against poverty. In most cases, fragile states cannot guarantee basic services, including protection against human rights violations. For this reason, the SDC helps its partner countries strengthen their state structures, thus enabling them to better fulfil their human rights obligations.

In Tajikistan, for example, the SDC supports reforms to strengthen rights-assistance services, the main beneficiaries of which are women whose husbands have gone to other countries to work. In Albania, with the assistance of the SDC, a comprehensive and sustainable social-protection system has been put in place to improve the social integration of the Roma community. In Bolivia, the SDC supports the national ombudsman's office for human rights, and seeks to address the concerns of the indigenous populations. In Afghanistan, the SDC assists women's organisations, and in Honduras it helps protect human rights defenders.

With these projects, the SDC promotes the rights of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, strengthens civil society and promotes the establishment of state institutions.

Examining states' human rights commitment

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the most important human rights conventions of the United Nations together form a broad-based regulatory framework for international human rights protection. One of the strengths of this frame of reference is its universality: human rights are valid worldwide. The majority of states have ratified the most important human rights conventions. Nevertheless, many states do not adhere to their obligations.

For this reason, the UN has set up a number of monitoring mechanisms. In the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN member states are obliged to report regularly on their current domestic human rights situation. Through the UPR, civil society now has a voice at the international level and can reach the general public. The SDC supports these efforts. For example, it has enabled Pakistani journalists to express their positions on the Pakistani government's state report. In Afghanistan, it supports the justice ministry in implementing the UN's recommendations.

Current projects

Object 1 – 12 of 48

SER Culture for Democracy

01.03.2025 - 31.12.2028

Independent culture & arts are strong drivers for improved social cohesion, tolerance and democratic practice at the local level. Building on this potential CfD will support quality cultural and artistic initiatives, mainly outside of urban centers. Strengthening the resilience and strategic focus of independent cultural actors will open up more spaces for critical thinking and reflection and ultimately contribute to stronger foundations for social cohesion, tolerance and democracy in Serbia.


UKR East Europe Foundation (EEF) – Building capacity of local CSOs to provide protection services to women and minorities (Capable and Resistant III)

01.01.2025 - 30.04.2027

Starting from 2022, Switzerland and East Europe Foundation (EEF) have supported around 40 projects of local humanitarian organizations in implementing protection activities to individuals affected by the war, while at the same time strengthening the organization’s capacities. Under Phase 2, SDC and EEF will support up to 35 additional projects to reach more beneficiaries and continue building the capacities of these NGOs to foster professionalism, principled action, and sustainability.


Core Contribution to HEKS/EPER 2025-28

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2026

HEKS/EPER, through an extensive network of partners, engages in inclusion, equal rights, peacebuilding, and resilience by empowering people to overcome disparities and reduce poverty. The main focus is on the right and access to land and resources and their sustainable management, the right to food, agro-ecological production, inclusive markets, and climate justice and adaptation for improved resilience. Increasingly well anchored in humanitarian aid, HEKS/EPER provides emergency assistance.


Core Contribution to Kooperationsgemeinschaft (KoGe) 2025-2028

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2026

KoGe is an umbrella organisation whose mandate is aligned with the SDG 16+ framework (peaceful, just and inclusive societies). With its faith-based member organisations of protestant background that are deeply anchored in the Swiss society, KoGe empowers disadvantaged people and provides improved food security, education and health. It also strengthens communities in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.


Core Contribution to Swiss Personnel Development Cooperation of UNITE 2025-2028

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2026

UNITE is a Swiss umbrellao rganisationw ith 13 member organisationse ngaged in Personnel Development Cooperation (PDC). The UNITE programme 2025-28 brings together the contribution of nine members to the implementation of the Swiss IC Strategy 2025-28 and the SDGs by strengthening and empowering local organisations in the Global South, in particular through the assignment of qualified, voluntary professionals. UNITE has developed Swiss PDC standards and contributes to the development of international PDC guidelines.


Core Contribution to the Alliance Terre des Hommes (TdH) Schweiz-Suisse 2025-2028

01.01.2025 - 31.12.2026

Terre des hommes Schweiz and Terre des Hommes Suisse have formed the TDH Alliance to pool their expertise in the promotion of children's and youth rights in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Alliance’s final goal intends to create the conditions for children and youth to be agents of change, defending and promoting their rights as well as an inclusive and sustainable development to benefit from access to basic services and improve their perspective for a decent life.


UNICEF Yemen, Thematic Contribution to Child Protection Programme

01.11.2024 - 31.12.2025

Through this thematic multi-year contribution, SDC provides flexible funding to UNICEF’s Child Protection Pro-gramme in Yemen. This partnership integrates humanitarian and development efforts to strengthen child protec-tion systems, improve the quality of prevention and response services and promote positive behaviour change within communities. Ultimately, this initiative aims to create a safer and more protective environment for children and adolescents in Yemen.


Kenya: Empowering refugees and host communities in Dadaab through market-led solutions (EMPOWER)

01.07.2024 - 30.06.2028

The project envisages to unlock the potential of displacement-affected communities (DACs) by providing access to capital, skills development, market opportunities and entrepreneur-friendly policies. The project aims to deliver on long-term economic growth, self-reliance and decreased dependency of DACs on aid. This sustainable approach offers a pathway out of poverty and towards thriving entrepreneurial livelihoods in Kenya.


Soutien au programme d’INSO au Tchad

01.06.2024 - 31.05.2026

L’environnement opérationnel étant de plus en plus complexe pour les ONG humanitaires et de développement au Tchad pour des raisons sécuritaires, la DDC soutient l'ouverture d'un bureau d'International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) afin de fournir une gamme de services essentiels sur les aspects sécuritaires et d’accès, aux ONG internationales et nationales, leur permettant de remplir leurs mandats auprès des populations de l’Est, du Bassin du Lac Tchad et du Sud.


UNICEF – Safeguarding children’s rights in East Jerusalem

01.05.2024 - 31.12.2027

Switzerland’s closing phase will support a comprehensive child rights and child protection programme in East Jerusalem, to keep children and their families safe from conflict-related violence while reducing their vulnerability through specialized services. Therewith, children and their families can benefit from the provision of education and health services in a safe environment. This support is in line with Switzerland’s engagement for the respect of child rights and international law.


Contribution to Medicus Mundi Switzerland (MMS) Network

01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027

Medicus Mundi Switzerland is a Network of 49 Swiss non-governmental organisations, foundations and scientific institutions involved in health advocacy at global level and health programmes in lowand middle-income countries. Taking a multisectoral approach and fostering open dialogue with relevant actors, decision-makers and the broader public, the Network facilitates the exchange of knowledge and experience and contributes to finding solutions to global health challenges.


Burundi – Programme conjoint sur les droits humains

01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027

La situation des droits de l’homme au Burundi reste préoccupante en raison de la persistance des violations des droits de l’homme et de l'absence d'obligation de rendre des comptes. Le Programme conjoint sur les droits humains est une initiative multipartite (Gouvernement et bailleurs de fonds) qui vise à promouvoir l’application du cadre légal en matière de droits de l’homme par des institutions crédibles et efficaces.

Object 1 – 12 of 48