27/27 Consolidated report of the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the right to development
Document Type: Final Report
Date: 2014 Jun
Session: 27th Regular Session (2014 Sep)
Agenda Item:
GE.
*1405958*
Human Rights Council Twenty-seventh session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development
Consolidated report of the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the right to development
Summary The present report contains a brief overview of the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations human rights mechanisms relating to the promotion and protection of the realization of the right to development. It covers the period from May 2013 to April 2014 and complements the report of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner on the right to development submitted to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-fourth session (A/HRC/24/27). The activities included support for relevant Council mechanisms, as well as events and initiatives in the areas of inter-agency coordination and mainstreaming of the right to development into the policies and programmes of international organizations and into the post-2015 development agenda.
Contents Paragraphs Page
I. Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 – 5 3
II. Operational framework for promoting and protecting the realization of the right to development ............................................................ 6 – 13 3
III. Activities of the Office of the High Commissioner ............................................... 14 – 43 5
A. Publications .................................................................................................... 15 – 18 5
B. Human rights and the financial crisis ............................................................. 19 – 21 6
C. Post-2015 development agenda ...................................................................... 22 – 32 7
D. Mainstreaming the right to development ........................................................ 33 – 36 10
E. Other activities................................................................................................ 37 – 43 11
IV. Activities by United Nations human rights mechanisms ........................................ 44 – 46 13
V. Conclusions and recommendations......................................................................... 47 – 49 14
I. Introduction
1. In its resolution 48/141, in which the General Assembly established the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Assembly directed the High Commissioner to promote and protect the realization of the right to development and to enhance support from relevant bodies of the United Nations system for this purpose. It also directed the High Commissioner to recognize the importance of promoting a balanced and sustainable development for all people and of ensuring realization of the right to development, as established in the Declaration on the Right to Development.
2. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 24/4, requested the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to submit to the Council an annual report on its activities, including inter-agency coordination within the United Nations system with regard to the promotion and realization of the right to development.
3. In its resolution 68/158, the General Assembly requested the High Commissioner, in mainstreaming the right to development, to undertake effectively activities aimed at strengthening the global partnership for development among Member States, development agencies and the international development, financial and trade institutions, and to reflect those activities in detail in her next report to the Human Rights Council.
4. Also in resolution 68/158, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Assembly for consideration at its sixty-ninth session, and an interim report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of resolution 68/158, including efforts undertaken at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and realization of the right to development.
5. The present report is submitted in accordance with the above requests and provides information on the activities undertaken by the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and United Nations human rights mechanisms during the period from May 2013 to April 2014.
II. Operational framework for promoting and protecting the realization of the right to development
6. In implementing its mandate to promote and protect the realization of the right to development, OHCHR is guided by the Declaration on the Right to Development, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council.
7. The Declaration on the Right to Development, in its article 1, states that the right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized.
8. The right to development is a human right on an equal footing with all other human rights. The recognition that every human person and all peoples are entitled to a development process in which all human rights can be realized fully is at the core of the human rights-based approach to development.
9. The strategic framework for the period 2014–20151 sets an objective to contribute to the effective realization of the right to development as a means to advance the promotion and protection of the effective enjoyment of all human rights by all. 10. In this regard, OHCHR seeks in particular:
(a) To integrate the promotion and protection of the right to development into global partnerships for development and, as appropriate, in the policies and operational activities of relevant actors at all levels;
(b) To promote and protect the realization of the right to development; (c) To enhance awareness, knowledge and understanding of the right to
development at all levels.
11. OHCHR has adopted a multidimensional strategy to support the implementation of the right to development, which focuses on:
(a) Ensuring the realization of the right to development throughout the human rights programme and by the relevant bodies of the United Nations system through strengthened and effective evaluation and monitoring to that end, and taking into account the need for sustainable development;
(b) Enhancing substantive support for the Human Rights Council and its subsidiary mechanisms relating to the right to development, including support for the open- ended intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development;
(c) Building stronger partnerships and collaboration with relevant actors, including Member States, multilateral institutions and civil society, including non- governmental organizations, so that support given to human rights bodies relevant to the right to development, as well as funds and specialized agencies, will have increased focus on its practical implementation;
(d) Encouraging the promotion and protection of the right to development in global development partnerships, as reflected in Millennium Development Goal 8 (aid, trade and debt reduction), through advocacy, networking, technical advice and the establishment of partnerships and other kinds of cooperation;
(e) Promoting the implementation of the right to development in technical assistance to requesting States and, taking into account a human rights-based approach, in national development strategies, such as poverty reduction strategy papers, where they exist, national Millennium Development Goals strategies and United Nations development frameworks, through close cooperation with Member States and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes;
(f) Identifying obstacles to the implementation of the right to development at the international, regional and national levels and promoting awareness about the content and importance of that right, including through increased engagement, research, advocacy and informational and educational activities;
(g) Promoting cooperation at the international and regional levels in mainstreaming the right to development, including by undertaking activities aimed at effectively strengthening the global partnership for development among Member States, development agencies and international development, financial and trade institutions.
1 A/67/461, annex, approved by the General Assembly in its decision 67/542.
12. The above strategy is further reflected in the OHCHR Management Plan for the period 2014-2017, in which the right to development is part of the thematic priority “Human rights in development and in the economic sphere”.
13. As part of the thematic strategy of the Management Plan, OHCHR seeks:
(a) To integrate human rights into the formulation of and follow-up to the post- 2015 development agenda by, inter alia, advocating for a strengthened global partnership for development, and the individual and collective human rights responsibilities of States and other relevant actors, including with regard to the right to development;
(b) To integrate international human rights principles and standards, including the right to development, into finance, trade and investment policies, which requires the mainstreaming of the right to development into global partnerships between Member States, national development agencies, and businesses, and international development, financial and trade institutions;
(c) To integrate human rights standards and principles into common country assessments, United Nations development assistance frameworks, consolidated appeal processes and the work of United Nations agencies, which involves working to bring all human rights principles and standards, including the right to development, into United Nations policies guidelines and training tools related to development programming, through inputs to the work of all relevant inter-agency coordination mechanisms.
III. Activities of the Office of the High Commissioner 14. OHCHR has conducted many activities and initiatives, a full account of which is available on the OHCHR webpage dedicated to the right to development (www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/Pages/DevelopmentIndex.aspx).
A. Publications
15. With a view to advancing a broader understanding of the right to development, the Office completed its publication entitled Realizing the Right to Development: Essays in Commemoration of 25 Years of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development. The publication focuses on the sustained, progressive and incremental steps necessary to protect and promote the realization of the right to development. The book presents a wide range of in-depth analytical studies by more than 30 international experts on the context, meaning and application of the right to development. It illustrates the usefulness of this right as a development paradigm, including in the post-2015 development agenda, and makes the case for reinvigorating it to advance peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. In particular, the forward by the High Commissioner sets out a basic understanding of the right to development.
16. Article 1 of the Declaration on the Right to Development states that the specific entitlement of the right to development is the right “to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development”. This basic entitlement includes a number of constituent elements, inter alia:
(a) People-centred development: the Declaration identifies “the human person” as the central subject, participant and beneficiary of development;
(b) A human rights-based approach: the Declaration specifically requires that development be carried out in a manner “in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized”;
(c) Participation: the Declaration calls for the “active, free and meaningful participation” of people in development;
(d) Equity: the Declaration underlines the need for “the fair distribution of the benefits” of development;
(e) Non-discrimination: the Declaration permits no “distinction as to race, sex, language or religion”;
(f) Self-determination: the Declaration integrates self-determination, including full sovereignty over natural resources, as a constituent element of the right to development.
17. Equally explicit are the prescriptions provided by the Declaration for the implementation of this right, inter alia:
(a) The formulation of appropriate national and international development policies;
(b) Effective international cooperation; (c) Reforms at the national and international levels; (d) Removal of obstacles to development, inter alia, human rights violations,
racism, colonialism, occupation and aggression;
(e) The promotion of peace and disarmament, and the redirecting of savings generated therefrom to development.
18. The book and related publicity materials (including an introductory pamphlet in all official languages of the United Nations) were disseminated and distributed to a broad range of stakeholders. The publication was launched at events on the theme “Realizing a vision for transformative development”, which brought together eminent experts, contributing authors, delegations, United Nations agencies, academia, activists, civil society organizations and university students to engage in interactive exchanges, which reinforced the call to revitalize this right in development and governance at all levels.2
B. Human rights and the financial crisis
19. In recognition of the devastating impact of the financial and economic crises on
human rights worldwide and in an effort to promote awareness of the human rights
implications of financial regulation, OHCHR organized two expert meetings on the human
rights impact of austerity measures: “Rights in crisis: an expert meeting on rights-based
approaches to financial regulation, macroeconomic policies and economic recovery”, in
April 2013; and “Human rights and the financial crisis in focus: an expert meeting on
promoting a rights-based approach to financial regulation and economic recovery”, in July
2013. The damage caused by the economic and financial crisis and some of the measures
taken to respond to it worldwide point to structural and systemic failures in the predominant
development model.
2 See
alsowww.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/Pages/RealizingaVisionforTransformativeDevelopment. aspx.
3 See
alsowww.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Development/Pages/PromotingHRbasedfinancialregulationmacroecon omicpolicies.aspx.
20. In May 2013, OHCHR issued a report4 and subsequently published a booklet5 on the impact of austerity measures on economic, social and cultural rights, in particular on the right to work and the right to social security, with a specific focus on women, migrants and older persons. The report lays out the criteria that States should apply when considering the adoption of austerity measures:
(a) The existence of a compelling State interest; (b) The necessity, reasonableness, temporariness and proportionality of the
austerity measures;
(c) The exhaustion of alternative and less restrictive measures; (d) The non-discriminatory nature of the measures proposed; (e) Protection of a minimum core content of the rights; (f) Genuine participation of affected groups and individuals in decision-making
processes.
21. In June 2013, OHCHR undertook a mission to Basel, Switzerland, for meetings with the financial standard-setting bodies, namely the Bank for International Settlements, the Financial Stability Board, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems and the International Association of Deposit Insurers. The mission provided an entry point for further cooperation between these bodies and OHCHR.
C. Post-2015 development agenda
22. OHCHR has been active in promoting all human rights, including the right to development, in the deliberations and processes to define the post-2015 development agenda, through research, advocacy, consultations, expert meetings and engagement with Member States, civil society and the broader public.
23. The High Commissioner has highlighted the importance of building the post-2015
development agenda on the standards of human rights, including the right to development.
In June 2013, she issued an open letter to all Member States (available from
www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/MDGs/HCOpenLetterPost2015.pdf) in which she called
for a new universal and balanced development framework that addresses both “freedom
from fear and want” to realize all human rights for all without discrimination. Subsequent
discussions held by the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals reflected
strong support and convergence on many human rights issues that the High Commissioner
called for in her open letter. On 25 September 2013, the High Commissioner also addressed
the General Assembly at the special event to follow up efforts made towards achieving the
Millennium development Goals, at which a growing number of States expressed their
strong support for a post-2015 development agenda based on human rights, as reflected in
the outcome document.
4 E/2013/82.
5 Seewww.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Development/RightsCrisis/E-2013-82_en.pdf.
keynote was delivered on behalf of the High Commissioner at its sixth session on human rights and the right to development in December 2013.7
24. OHCHR has also provided technical assistance together with the United Nations
system to support the work of the Working Group. It participated in the United Nations
technical support team, which prepared thematic issue briefs to support the work of the
Working Group, including on human rights and the right to development, inequality,
governance and a global partnership for development. In particular, OHCHR co-authored
the technical support team issues brief on “Human rights, including the right to
development”,
25. In 2013, OHCHR also published jointly with the Center for Economic and Social
Rights the report “Who will be accountable? Human Rights and the Post-2015
Development Agenda”.
7. Seewww.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14148&LangID=E.
26. The High Commissioner reminded States that the right to development puts people at the centre of development. It addresses the linkages between the national and international conditions that are necessary for development. The right also provides substance for the guarantee enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of a social and international order in which human rights can be fully realized. A truly enabling environment for development must address both the national and international constraints that limit the potential for development in all countries. Human rights entail extraterritorial obligations for all States to ensure that their policy decisions (as well as other actors under their jurisdiction, such as private corporations) do not have a negative impact on the human rights of people living in other countries.10
27. The current model of development is unequal, unstable and unsustainable. The financial, food, fuel, energy and climate crises have exacerbated inequalities both within and between countries, depriving millions of people of their right to a decent standard of living. In the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”, States called for a world that is “just, equitable and inclusive”.11
28. A central objective of the new development agenda must be the eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty, which should be understood more broadly than an income of $1.25 per day. Poverty is multidimensional. It is rooted in the chronic deprivation of resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for an adequate standard of living and other fundamental human rights. The new agenda must therefore aim to promote and protect both freedom from want and freedom from fear for all people, without discrimination. It must aim to fulfil the rights to education, health, housing, food, water, sanitation and decent work and social security. It must also take account of people’s concerns relating to personal security, access to and administration of justice, and the possibility of political participation, including free expression and association.
29. Furthermore, the imperative of equality should underpin the entire agenda, so that marginalized groups, previously locked out from development, are included. This implies that three principles –equality, non-discrimination and a broader sense of equity –are integrated throughout the sustainable development goals. One of the key failings of the Millennium Development Goals was their focus on average statistics and aggregate progress, which excluded many people from development. Inequalities, both within and between countries, have risen in ways that put economic growth and social cohesion at risk, as social tensions flare into divisive and violent conflict. Equality must be integrated throughout the new framework. This can be achieved by disaggregating data for all social groups for all goals, targets and indicators, and monitoring progress for each group. This will help to create greater equity in access to health, education and other key social services. It will help to ensure the inclusion of the marginalized, disempowered and excluded groups, including women, minorities, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, migrants and others. The new targets and indicators must also include measures to eliminate discrimination and measures to reduce social, economic and environmental inequalities. This should include addressing the unequal environmental burdens borne by
10 The high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development concluded that the
responsibility for the creation of an enabling environment for the realization of the right to development encompassed three main levels: (a) States acting collectively in global and regional partnerships; (b) States acting individually as they adopt and implement policies that affect persons not strictly within their jurisdiction; and (c) States acting individually as they formulate. national development policies and programmes affecting persons within their jurisdiction. See A/HRC/15/WG.2/TF/2/Add.2, annex.
indigenous peoples, traditional farmers, pastoralists, herders, coastal communities and people living in small island States in the face of natural disasters, desertification and global climate change.
30. The new agenda must also address inequalities between countries. In the wake of global financial, food, climate and energy crises – and the self-evident failures of global governance to prevent and mitigate their effects – the post-2015 agenda must address the pressing need for reforms at the international level. This includes human rights-based reforms of the institutions, processes and policies of global governance. It also includes democratizing the institutions of global governance, to give real voice and participation to all countries in global decision-making and to ensure greater fairness and equity in the shaping of the rules of global governance. This is essential in, for example, the field of trade, where rules on agricultural subsidies and intellectual property are still skewed in favour of the more powerful countries, in ways that often undermine the rights to food and health of people in developing countries. Meaningful reforms of trade, finance, investment, intellectual property, climate and other regimes are also needed to ensure that international rules and policies are consistent with, and do not undercut, the minimum standards set by human rights. All States must have the policy space to protect the human rights of their people, and must be held accountable for doing so.
31. The new agenda must also include a strong accountability framework, including accountability of the private sector. Millennium Development Goal 8, on global partnerships, included some useful indicators on aid, trade, debt and technology transfer, as well as on the need for special and differential treatment for least developed countries, including land-locked and small island developing States. No measurable targets, however, were set, and progress was not effectively monitored. The new agenda must build strong accountability mechanisms so that all States are accountable for honouring the commitments that they make. Other powerful actors, including private actors (such as transnational corporations), should also be held to account, to ensure responsible business practices. The exercise of due diligence, the use of human rights impact assessments, and the full application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights must all be ensured.
32. Lastly, it is vital that the new agenda be universally applicable. In the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want”, States established that sustainable development goals must be universally applicable to all countries, while taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development. “Common but differentiated responsibilities” is a well-known concept in environmental law. International human rights law also takes account of States’ different levels and stages of development through concepts of “progressive realization”, “maximum available resources” and the duties of international assistance and cooperation. The right to development sets out the duty to create an enabling international environment. In the current debate over universality and differentiation, the universally agreed –and – universally applicable – normative framework of human rights thus seems more relevant than ever.
D. Mainstreaming the right to development
34. One focus area of the mechanism is policy coherence across the United Nations system and strengthening the positioning of human rights within global development agendas as a whole. During the period under review, OHCHR and the mechanism worked to support Member States in the integration of human rights and right to development provisions in the quadrennial comprehensive policy review. The review requested the United Nations to link normative (including human rights) and operational work and to provide capacity-development towards a more participatory and accountable development process. The strategic priorities for 2014-2017 of the United Nations Development Group were also subsequently revised, and now aim to deliver more coherent, effective and efficient support to countries in the achievement of internationally agreed development goals and human rights treaty obligations.
35. OHCHR continues to lead the United Nations system with regard to the realization of the right to development. This includes forging potential concrete partnerships on specific thematic areas, such as trade, finance and investment. OHCHR will take the lead within the mainstreaming mechanism on how human rights, including the right to development, can be further integrated into the strategic positioning of human rights within the context of the United Nations Development Group and within development activities.
36. In 2013, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) adopted a document entitled “UN-Habitat commitment to the human rights-based approach to development”, and its Executive Director strongly supported a human rights-based approach in all aspects of its work. OHCHR contributed to this development through the joint UN-Habitat/OHCHR United Nations housing programme and different human rights mainstreaming activities, including side events during UN-Habitat governing body meetings, human rights training for UN-Habitat senior management and meetings between the High Commissioner and the Executive Director of UN-Habitat. The UN-Habitat human rights strategy is planned to be put in place through, inter alia, guidance notes and training for staff members, explaining the linkages between their sectorial work and human rights, incorporating adequate procedures and safeguard in projects, and the establishment of an advisory group on human rights within the organization. OHCHR will continue to provide assistance during this process.
E. Other activities
37. In September 2013, OHCHR participated in a side event held during the twenty- fourth session of the Human Rights Council on the right to development and the post-2015 development agenda, organized by the members of the Working Group on the Right to Development and International Solidarity of the Geneva Forum of Catholic-Inspired NGOs,12 speaking on the theme “Realizing the transformative vision of the Declaration on the Right to Development”. OHCHR participated in an event devoted to “International youth leadership on the right to development”, sponsored by the National Association of Women’s Organizations and Ariel Foundation International, with the co-sponsorship of World YWCA, the Inter-African Committee on Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Girls, GEO International and the Global Education Institute for Shipboard Education. OHCHR elaborated on the right to development, including through identifying and relating
12 Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII, Association Points-Coeur, Caritas Internationalis
(International Confederation of Catholic Charities), Dominicans for Justice and Peace (Order of Preachers), International Institute of Mary Our Help of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, International Volunteerism Organization for Women, Education, and Development, International Organization for the Right to Education and Freedom of Education, New Humanity.
its principles to presentations by youth on a variety of themes of particular relevance to young people.
38. In October 2013, OHCHR made a presentation at a training course organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Bosnia for economies in transition on a new generation of international investment policies. The presentation focused on the human rights impact of trade and investment agreements. In November 2013, OHCHR organized jointly with the United Nations Development Programme and Transparency International, and in cooperation with Austria, Morocco and Poland, a side event on the human rights case against corruption during the fifth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Panama. The event concluded, inter alia, that effective anti-corruption efforts are essential to the creation of an enabling environment for development at both the national and international levels, as envisaged in the Declaration on the Right to Development. Also in November, OHCHR provided a briefing on the right to development to some 50 European Union staff members in charge of human rights within the European Commission and the European External Action Service. The briefing covered the broad mandate of the High Commissioner with regard to the right to development, and the challenges faced in the implementation of this right. In January 2014, OHCHR delivered a briefing for Commonwealth Member States on the right to development, with a particular focus on the draft right to development criteria and sub-criteria, including entry points, opportunities and technical aspects for Member States to contribute to the revision of the draft criteria and sub-criteria within the Working Group on the Right to Development.
39. In March 2014, the High Commissioner addressed a side event held during the twenty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council on the theme “Africa and the right to development: towards the post-2015 development agenda”, organized by Egypt, the African Union and the National Council for Human Rights of Egypt. Against the backdrop of challenges faced by the continent in achieving sustainable and inclusive development, including inequitable and exploitative economic arrangements, poverty, inequalities and vulnerabilities, discrimination, conflict and disproportionate effects of climate change, participants in the event stressed in their presentations and discussions the need to place the right to development at the centre of the post-2015 agenda and sustainable development goals. The High Commissioner called for a new agenda aligned with the human rights framework, with the right to development at its centre, underpinned by a strong accountability framework of goals, targets and indicators. She advocated a new social and international order strengthened by the right to development to address systemic failures, structural injustices and responsibility gaps in global governance, and a genuine global partnership for development.
40. Also in March, OHCHR participated in a side event on human rights and sustainable development, organized by the Permanent Mission of Gabon. OHCHR spoke on the theme “The right to development and its inclusion in the post-2015 development agenda”. Recalling the universal human rights framework, the Declaration on the Right to Development and the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, OHCHR stressed the need to place the right to development at the centre of the post-2015 development agenda and sustainable development goals, together with a strong framework for accountability.
41. In Addis Ababa, OHCHR participated in conferences organized by the Economic Commission for Africa in close partnership with the African Union on such themes as gender, development, statistics, trade, finance and justice, with a view to highlight the imperative and value of integrating the right to development and a human rights-based approach into the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies and strategies in different fields. Interactions with the African Peer Review Mechanism Unit of the
Commission, including on the need to review the functioning of the Mechanism through the prism of the right to development, was initiated in 2012. The potential review of the Mechanism by OHCHR in the light of the tenets of the right to development constitutes one entry point to mainstreaming human rights, including the right to development, into the Mechanism.
42. In Beirut, OHCHR, as a member of the regional United Nations Development Group, raised awareness of the importance of integrating human rights including the right to development in development policies and programmes. Its increased engagement at the regional level on the right to development and the post-2015 development agenda seeks to strengthen collaboration with the regional United Nations Development Group and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in analysing development plans with a view to aligning them with international human rights standards.
43. The above-mentioned activities resulted in greater visibility of the right to development both as a human right and a guiding instrument for the post-2015 development agenda.
IV. Activities by United Nations human rights mechanisms
44. OHCHR continued to provide support to the Working Group on the Right to Development, in particular at its fourteenth annual session, held from 13 to 17 May 2013, and its informal inter-sessional meeting, held on 3 and 4 April 2014. OHCHR also supported the Chairperson-Rapporteur in holding informal consultations and presenting the report of the Working Group to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly. In October 2013, OHCHR issued a press release thereon.13
45. In October 2013, the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights submitted a report to the General Assembly on Millennium Development Goal 8, and in particular on the lessons for the post- 2015 development framework of the United Nations.14 In his report, the Independent Expert argued that implementing a human rights-based approach fully –with its emphasis on equality, non-discrimination, participation and accountability – could help to assure a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable post-2015 global development framework that is consistent with the obligations of States to realize human rights, including the right to development, and an effective partnership based on the principles of international cooperation and solidarity.
46. In April 2014, on the occasion of the Global Day of Action on Military Spending, the Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order urged States to cut military spending and invest more in human development.15 In this regard, article 7 of the Declaration on the Right to Development called upon all States to promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and, to that end, do their utmost to achieve general and complete disarmament under effective international control, as well as to ensure that the resources released by
13 “Right to Development: Political will urgently needed to address rising inequalities”, 31 October
2013, available from www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13927&LangID=E.
14 A/68/542.
15 “UN expert urges States to cut military spending and invest more in human development”, 14 2014,
available from www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14504&LangID=E.
effective disarmament measures are used for comprehensive development, in particular that of developing countries.
V. Conclusions and recommendations 47. The active outreach, advocacy and awareness-raising conducted by the Office of the High Commissioner on the right to development has contributed to growing engagement by educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and youth groups, including through the organization of independent events promoting creative dialogue. In going forward, OHCHR will continue its efforts to enable, nurture and support the free, active and meaningful participation of civil society and youth for the right to development. It will continue to lead in sustained, progressive and incremental steps to promote and protect the realization of the right to development.
48. The right to development should be central to the post-2015 development agenda. According to article 1 of the Declaration on the Right to Development, the right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized.
49. The right to development provides substance for the guarantee enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of a social and international order in which all human rights can be fully realized. The post-2015 development agenda will therefore need to aim at building a new, more equitable and sustainable national and international order, firmly based on the foundation of human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Right to Development.