A/HRC/39/51 I. Introduction 1. The present report, submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to Council resolution 33/14, outlines the activities of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development. The thematic focus of the report is exploring the connection between the right to development and equality, and the consequences of inequalities within countries in the enjoyment of the right to development, and provides recommendations on contributing to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right to development in the context of the implementation of the equality-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For the purposes of the present report, the Special Rapporteur will focus on inequalities within countries. II Activities of the Special Rapporteur A. Regional consultations on the practical implementation of the right to development 2. In September 2017, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 36/9, which requested the Special Rapporteur on the right to development to hold consultations with States and regional consultations on the implementation of the right to development. In the light of this mandate, the Special Rapporteur has begun convening a series of regional consultations, to be held throughout 2018–2019. The aim for these consultations is to identify good practices in designing, implementing, monitoring and assessing policies and programmes that contribute to the realization of the right to development in various regions. The consultations will gather together representatives of Member States from the respective region, as well as representatives of United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector. The first consultation, for the States from the African group, took place in Addis Ababa (27–29 March 2018). The second consultation, for the States from the Group of Western European and other States and from the Eastern European Group, took place on 11 and 12 June 2018 in Geneva. The Special Rapporteur is planning to hold subsequent consultations for the Latin American and Caribbean Group in October 2018 and for the Asian Group in December 2018. The expected outcome of the consultations is the development of a set of practical guidelines and recommendations drawn from empirical evidence, which will serve as a tool in designing, monitoring and assessing the structures, processes and outcomes of human rights-motivated development policies. They will also promote indicators and measurements that have proven successful in specific contexts. B. Other activities 3. Resolution 33/14 also requires the Special Rapporteur to contribute to the work of the Working Group on the Right to Development, with a view to supporting the accomplishment of its overall mandate, taking into account, inter alia, the deliberations, recommendations and conclusions of the Working Group, while avoiding any duplication. In September 2017, the Special Rapporteur participated in informal consultations with the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group, representatives of the participating States and civil society organizations. In April 2018, the Special Rapporteur participated in the nineteenth session of the Working Group, held an interactive dialogue with its members and participated in a panel, making a statement devoted to the right to development and inequalities. 4. In December 2017, the Special Rapporteur delivered a statement at the South-South Human Rights Forum convened by China in Beijing. On 22 and 23 May 2018, he took part in an international expert conference, entitled “Vienna + 25: Building trust, making human rights a reality for all”, where he participated in a session on promotion of equality in societies. 3