This brief introduces a human rights approach to social work research and evaluation compares
it to traditional research approaches and explains how to apply it in real world social work
research. The author draws from a human rights framework that incorporates dignity and respect
for all persons the universality and interrelatedness of rights (political civil social
economic and cultural) nondiscrimination participation accountability and transparency. To
advance a human rights approach it introduces a rights-based model that accentuates the use of
mixed methods and participatory research and evaluation. This brief aims to increase
competencies in how to apply a rights based approach to research decision-making process from
the formulation of research questions research and practice design and participatory action
strategies that advance human rights. It is a call to action for social workers to forge a
rights-based research agenda that fosters empowerment.
