A/HRC/33/21
national and global governance. As the Declaration on the Right to Development clearly
stated, everyone, without distinction, was entitled to a social and international order in
which human rights and freedoms could be realized. He underlined that the thirtieth
anniversary of the Declaration must renew in everyone the spirit of multilateral action for
the common good, which was the only hope for survival on the small and fragile planet
shared by all.
III. Summary of the panel discussion
11.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ramadan underlined the importance of the panel in the
light of the recent significant developments intrinsically related to the realization of the
right to development in its diverse aspects. The thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on
the Right to Development was to be celebrated as it marked the recognition of development
as an inalienable and independent human right. However, he expressed concern that the
progress achieved in the realization of the right had been uneven, as demonstrated in
Africa, the Middle East, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and
small island developing States.
12.
Nonetheless, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa
Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement had paved the way for realizing the aspirational
vision embodied in the Declaration. The 2030 Agenda, in particular, constituted an
important vehicle for the realization of the right to development. It set a transformative
vision for people that aimed at the realization of the various human rights that formed part
and parcel of the right to development. Mr. Ramadan affirmed that–as the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action recognized–while lasting progress towards the
implementation of the right to development required effective development policies at the
national level, it also necessitated equitable economic relations and a favourable economic
environment at the international level.
13.
Mr. Ramadan highlighted the pivotal role played by the Working Group on the
Right to Development, which monitored and reviewed progress in the promotion and
implementation of the right to development at the national and international levels. He
hoped that the progress achieved in its work–particularly in formulating a set of standards
for implementing the right to development–would assist the endeavours exerted to that end.
The vision of the Declaration must be the guiding force in the implementation of the 2030
Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda in a comprehensive, equitable and balanced
process that addressed the main pillars of development by inter alia, enhancing international
cooperation and exchange of expertise in a way that ultimately left no one behind.
14.
Mr. Ramadan outlined the guiding questions for the panel discussion: How can the
United Nations system, in particular human rights mechanisms, contribute to the
implementation and realization of the right to development? How can the United Nations
system help to overcome the existing challenges around the right to development as an
independent and distinct right? What role can international cooperation play in the
realization of the objectives enshrined in the Declaration on the Right to Development?
How can the implementation of the 2030 Agenda contribute to the implementation of the
Declaration on the Right to Development, with a view to achieving inclusive, equitable and
sustainable development for all? How can the right to development be operationalized to
create an environment conducive to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, in
particular Goal 17 on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global
partnership for sustainable development? What ways and means can be pursued to
integrate, claim and build capacity on the right to development among all stakeholders?
4
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents