A/HRC/45/15/Add.1 development, which is defined in article 1 of the Declaration on the Right to Development as 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. 15. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur learned of the mandate and work of the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights and of the long-standing discussion on the creation of a national human rights institution in Switzerland. The Centre was conceived as a pilot project of the federal Government, with the aim of promoting the implementation of international human rights obligations in Switzerland and advising and supporting the authorities, civil society and the economy.4 The Centre’s mandate, initially covering from 2011 to 2015, was extended by the Federal Council on 1 July 2015 to enable the Centre to continue its activities until the establishment of a successor institution. The Special Rapporteur notes that national human rights institutions are particularly well placed to look into issues and review complaints regarding issues related to the practical implementation of the right to development, and to promote participatory decision-making related to the promotion and fulfilment of economic and social rights and to development policies and projects. 16. Switzerland is a party to most human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Article 54 (2) of the Constitution provides that Switzerland is to assist in the alleviation of need and poverty in the world and promote respect for human rights and democracy, the peaceful coexistence of peoples and the conservation of natural resources. III. Selected areas of development and the right to development A. International cooperation policy 17. In accordance with the federal Constitution and relevant legislation, every four years the Federal Council and the parliament define the strategic approach for the State’s international cooperation, which helps to alleviate hardship and poverty in the world. In 2019, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research prepared a draft international cooperation strategy for 2021 to 2024, and made it available for public consultation between 2 May and 23 August 2019.5 The draft elicited 249 inputs from various segments of the society. The draft strategy includes the following thematic priorities: creating local jobs, combating climate change, reducing the causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, and promoting peace and the rule of law. It defines four priority regions for bilateral development cooperation: North Africa and the Middle East; sub-Saharan Africa; Asia; and Eastern Europe. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research will continue its economic development work in a limited number of countries within the four regions and its engagement in certain emerging countries in Latin America. 18. The draft strategy clarifies that, in the context of international cooperation, Switzerland will maintain a focus on humanitarian aid, the promotion of peace and human rights, and action to tackle global challenges relating to climate and the environment, water, migration and development, food security and health. In the dispatch on the draft strategy, continued close cooperation with multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and multilateral development banks is reaffirmed. Criteria that need to be considered in the State’s strategic approach to international cooperation are set out in the draft strategy, namely: the needs of affected populations in developing countries (in particular high poverty levels and sustainable development challenges); the State’s long-term interests (in terms of a just and peaceful international order, the business environment, migration and 4 5 4 See www.skmr.ch/en/about/index.html. See www.eda.admin.ch/deza/en/home/news/dossiers/alle-dossiers/iza-2021-2024.html.