Is ‘Human Rights’ the End or the Means of Sustainable Urbanization? Buddini Chatumaduri Dharmawardhana, Mahesh Devinda Abeynayake and Nazeer

Abstract

Urbanization is one of the inventible phenomena in the 21st century. People migrate to urban areas due to social, cultural, environmental, political and economic reasons. Rapid and unplanned urbanization lead to huge social, economic, cultural and environmental challenges. Therefore, sustainable development, more particularly sustainable urbanization is required in order to prevent adverse effects of rapid and unplanned urbanization. In other words development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising future generations to meet their own needs as emphasized by the Brutl and Commission should be an essential feature in the urbanization process. It is apparent that urbanization causes serious violation of human rights including social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights which are indivisible and interdependent. These violations of human rights can be prevented through sustainable urbanization. In other words, achievement of sustainable development and sustainable urbanisation guarantees the human rights of people. Also on the other hand it is argued that rights-based approach is the best method to achieve sustainability. The objective of this paper is to evaluate as to whether the ‘Human Rights’ is the end result of sustainability or whether ‘rights-based’ approach is the way to achieve sustainability. In concluding the paper it is noted that ‘human being’ should be the paramount consideration and central concern of development and ‘Human Rights’ is the “END” as well as the “MEANS” of sustainable urbanization.