A/HRC/21/19
other relevant stakeholders, including United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and
institutions, as well as other relevant multilateral institutions and forums. She pointed out
that the submissions varied in their orientation, the extent of specificity and the level of
detail. There were varied views on how national and international responsibilities were
reflected in the criteria and operational sub-criteria. Some submissions pointed out that they
were weighted towards national responsibilities, thereby ignoring the global challenges
faced by developing countries, whereas others found that the criteria should strike a balance
between State action at the national level and international cooperation, emphasizing that
the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection of all human rights, including
the right to development, lay with the State. A few submissions pointed to the need to
emphasize equality and non-discrimination, as well as to the lack of emphasis on vulnerable
groups. One submission observed that the right to development could not be realized
through the meeting of social and economic indicators alone; progress must also be made in
basic civil and political rights in order to create an environment in which the right to
development can be properly implemented. Views were also expressed that the attributes,
criteria and sub-criteria were limited to Millennium Development Goal 8 and lacked
appropriate human rights language. As to the nature of the expected outcome, the NonAligned Movement aimed at the elaboration of an international instrument on the right to
development of a legally binding nature. It noted, however that it was open to exploring
other options to facilitate progress, which may include the development of guidelines. The
European Union pointed out that the Working Group could develop appropriate
instruments, such as templates, checklists or voluntary guidelines, as a means of
implementing and assessing progress in the implementation of the right to development.
Submissions from United Nations agencies focused primarily on aspects related to their
particular fields of competence and mandate. In a joint statement, non-governmental
organizations provided comprehensive remarks and suggestions in relation to the criteria
and sub-criteria.
33.
The criteria discussed by the Working Group were as follows: promote constant
improvement in socioeconomic well-being; maintain stable national and global economic
and financial systems; adopt national and international policy strategies supportive of the
right to development; establish an economic regulatory and oversight system to manage
risk and encourage competition; create an equitable, rule-based, predictable and nondiscriminatory international trading system; promote and ensure access to adequate
financial resources; promote and ensure access to the benefits of science and technology;
promote and ensure environmental sustainability and sustainable use of natural resources;
contribute to an environment of peace and security; implement national development
strategies and plans of action on the basis of a participatory and transparent process;
establish a legal framework supportive of sustainable human-centred development; draw on
relevant international human rights instruments in elaborating development strategies;
ensure non-discrimination, access to information, participation and effective remedies;
promote good governance at the international level and effective participation of all
countries in international decision-making; promote good governance and respect for rule
of law at the national level; provide for fair access to and sharing of the benefits of
development; provide fair sharing of the burdens of development; and eradicate social
injustices through economic and social reforms. Comments and drafting suggestions would
be included in a conference room paper.
34.
The representatives of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development as well as civil society and non-governmental
organizations took active part in the review of the criteria by providing inputs, comments
and contributions, which were appreciated by delegates.
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