To reduce poverty and inequalities, good governance and fulfillment of human rights are essential. With Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 16, the international community is seeking to promote inclusive societies, to provide equal access to justice for all and to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The Austrian Development Agency (ADA) supports developing countries in respecting and safeguarding human rights and fostering a vibrant civil society. Migration is a highly relevant issue for development in countries of destination, transit countries and countries of origin. The aim is to enhance the beneficial and mitigate the adverse effects of migration.

In its operations, ADA adopts a comprehensive human-rights-based approach, which is fundamental for its support mechanisms. It applies to all intervention areas and phases of planning and implementing programmes as well as in policy dialogue. The universality and indivisibility of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights is a fundamental principle here. Besides the SDGs, ADA also takes international and regional human rights conventions and OECD and EU guidelines – such as the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy – as a frame of reference for its interventions.