The fields of human rights and development have a long tradition dating back to the World War II period, and their articulation is part of a dynamic process in the relations between states and between states and citizens, being the Rights-Based Approach (RBA) , a proposal to manage this articulation. But after 30 years of the emergence of the approach, what are the contributions and limitations of its applicability today? Through a literature review, the essay discusses the context in which RBA emerges, its core components, and the approach viability. In the conclusion, recognising the political component as the core component of the RBA, the essay highlights how despite an adverse context, the approach can generate contributions at the national level to advance the enjoyment of the Right to development.