A/HRC/5/3 page 15 also not involved. As a result, PRSPs often undermine the growth of democracy, rather than strengthen it.21 In several countries, the perception of people is that PRSPs simply increase the demands on the government in the structural adjustment process. In Zambia for example, the PRSP has been an extension of the earlier stabilization programme, without leading to any radical alteration in the macroeconomic regime. Said Adejumobi (2006) summarizes this by saying that “the experience of many African countries with respect to adjustment policy measures especially in the social sector is that it weakens governance capacity rather than strengthens it”.22 30. Despite all these criticisms, it is generally recognized that the PRSPs have brought anti-poverty programmes to the forefront of national development policies and have highlighted the nature of political regimes and governance in Africa. However, they have still failed to emphasize the importance and relevance of the human rights-based approach for addressing the problems of governance in an objective manner, that would invariably lead to the design of policies in conformity with human rights standards. In Uganda, the strengthening of democracy and decentralization constitute an element of the objectives of the PRSP, to be achieved through “promoting peaceful conflict resolution, respect for human rights, law and order, transparency and accountability in government”.23 In Ghana, the PRSP emphasizes the notion of good governance by promoting rule of law, human rights, social justice and equity as well as transparency and accountability in public sector management. From the human rights point of view, it should be possible to build on these aspects of PRSP, since the formulation of a PRSP is now recognized as the goal not only just for stimulating economic growth, but also for promoting pro-poor governance by enlisting the poor in the decision-making process. B. Poverty reduction in Asia 31. Over the last decade, poverty reduction has become a major concern in almost all Asian countries. Development policy now emphasizes the identification of priority areas by national Governments themselves to enable them to design their own national poverty reduction strategies within the context of social development. In line with this approach, many Asian countries have adopted PRSPs, with the broad participation of civil society, as the framework for their efforts at poverty reduction and as a basis for accessing loans and grants from international donors. 32. Most countries in the Asia-Pacific region focus their national poverty reduction strategies and programmes on the majority of the poor population. These programmes aim at reducing poverty, increasing access to basic services like education, health and safe drinking water as well as addressing the issues of equity, non-discrimination and participation through targeted safety net programmes. 21 See Said Adejumobi (2006) “Governance and Poverty Reduction in Africa: A Critique of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers”. 22 Ibid., p. 22. 23 Ibid., p. 17-18.