A/HRC/42/35
India’s foreign policy. Its external development assistance programmes in developing
countries had significantly increased over the past two years and were based on two pillars.
The “partnership model”, whereby the partners determined and decided the priorities and
contours of their development projects, was working for mutual benefit and prosperity. Its
core objective was to create lasting local goods through the sharing of technologies and to
enhance local capacities.
59.
Mauritania noted that the right to development was an integral part of national plans
and programmes for poverty alleviation and control and of its work to promote and protect
human rights. The Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity Strategy covered the period
from 2015 to 2030 and was aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive development in a
way that would meet the basic needs of all the people of Mauritania. Its three main
components included promoting rapid, sustainable and inclusive growth, encouraging
training and the provision of basic services, and strengthening government institutions.
60.
Bangladesh stated that the right to development had been addressed and
mainstreamed in all relevant national development plans and strategies to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals. At the regional level, Bangladesh continued to advocate
for enhanced regional and subregional cooperation to unlock the potential for development
in the South Asian region. At the international level, it had acted as the spokesperson for
the least developed countries in relevant international forums, including during negotiations
of internationally agreed development goals and commitments for least developed countries.
D.
Interactive dialogue with experts
61.
In accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 39/9, the Working Group held
an interactive dialogue with experts on the implementation and realization of the right to
development and the implications of the 2030 Agenda, including the possible engagement
of the Working Group with the high-level political forum on sustainable development. The
first panel included Vicente Yu, coordinator of the South Centre’s Global Governance for
Development Programme; Regina Asariotis, Senior Legal Affairs Officer and Chief of the
Policy and Legislation Section of the Division on Technology and Logistics of the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development; Raúl Torres, a counsellor in the World
Trade Organization’s Development Division; and Sanya Reid Smith, Legal Adviser and
Senior Researcher at the Third World Network.
62.
Mr. Yu addressed challenges for the realization of the right to development and the
2030 Agenda, especially climate change and global economic uncertainty. Climate
vulnerabilities depended on countries’ stage of development, infrastructure, finances and
technology. A legally binding instrument on the right to development could consider
climate change. Economic uncertainty and slower growth in developing countries meant
that adaptation to climate change would be more difficult. Global economic uncertainty was
caused by fiscal consolidation policies, privatization, wage stagnation, growing inequality,
inflation, debt dependence and trade protectionism. Achieving the targets of the Paris
Agreement required ambitious climate action, the availability of adaptation technologies,
transition to clean energy and reduced energy demand. Technological change, migration
and population growth would impact development objectives. A legally binding instrument
should address sustainable industrial policies, technology transfer, the development of
productive capacity and a protected global environment that was treated as a public good.
The international cooperation aspect should be a priority.
63.
Ms. Asariotis spoke about progress and obstacles in international trade for achieving
the 2030 Agenda. She referred to climate change as a defining issue of our era. The 1.5
degrees of global warming in the Paris Agreement was an aspirational goal. Quantitative
research estimated that climate change would cause huge losses even with 1.5 degrees of
global warming. Small island developing States were highly vulnerable to external shocks,
with a high exposure to natural disasters and limited adaptive capacity. Highly dependent
on imports and tourism, their airports and seaports were critical lifelines and were
especially vulnerable to climate related disasters. A 2017 hurricane had caused losses in the
Caribbean amounting to several hundred per cent of countries’ gross domestic product.
11
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents