A/HRC/45/15 41. The Constitution mandated municipal assemblies to, among other things, convene public consultations on matters of local interest; guarantee that due attention was paid to proposals, complaints and requests of the population; guarantee the right of the municipality’s population to propose to the assembly the analysis of issues within its competence; and maintain an adequate level of information for the population regarding decisions of general interest adopted by government bodies. The National Assembly had adopted a law on the organization and functioning of municipal assemblies and people’s councils, which reinforced the autonomy of municipalities and the capacity of individuals and communities to participate in local development. 42. For 2020, the State had set out to develop a more flexible and participatory plan for the economy by identifying the strengths of each territory and enterprise to increase productivity. The Government listed as priorities increasing and diversifying exports, improving efficiency in the investment process, increasing the participation of national industry, strengthening local development projects and promoting links among all economic actors, including those in State and non-State sectors and foreign investors. To increase foreign direct investment in the country’s development process, a one-stop shop for foreign investment had been launched in January 2020. The purpose of the one-stop shop was to facilitate processes for investors and help speed up procedures for the approval of new businesses. The one-stop shop was meant to consolidate the processes for exporting goods and services and to eliminate internal obstacles and excessive bureaucracy in trade. 43. Cuba called attention to its status as a developing country and the negative effects on development caused by the blockade imposed by the United States of America. The Government also called attention to developed countries’ failure to meet their commitment to provide 0.7 per cent of their gross domestic product for ODA. Persistent inequality within and between countries violated the right to development, the Government underscored. 44. In its submission, the Government of Cyprus reported that when evaluating tax policies and fiscal incentives, it carried out public consultations and recorded the effects on gross domestic product, employment and budgets. Cyprus also promoted transparency by publicizing data on ministry and department websites.7 45. The Government of Ecuador reported that under the Constitution, the State had the duty to plan national development, eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development and the equitable redistribution of resources and wealth. The Constitution also determined the persons who were to receive priority and specialized attention: elderly persons; children and adolescents; pregnant women; persons with disabilities; persons deprived of their liberty; those suffering from catastrophic or highly complex diseases; persons at risk; and victims of domestic and sexual violence, child abuse and natural or human-made disasters. The State must provide special protection to persons who are doubly vulnerable. 46. The National Development Plan for 2017–2021, entitled “A lifetime”, was organized into three programmatic areas and nine national development goals, based on environmental sustainability and territorial development. The first area, “Rights for all throughout a lifetime”, set out the protection of vulnerable persons, affirmed multiculturalism and interculturality, was aimed at combating poverty in all its dimensions and all types of discrimination and violence, and guaranteed the rights of nature. The second area, “Economy at the service of society”, was aimed at consolidating the social and solidarity-based economic system, expanding productivity and competitiveness, generating decent employment, defending dollarization and equitably redistributing wealth. It also was aimed at guaranteeing food sovereignty and comprehensive rural development. The third area, “More society, a better State”, promoted citizen participation and the construction of a new social ethic based on transparency and solidarity, a State with quality services, open to permanent social dialogue, as well as sovereignty and peace. 47. The National Development Plan determined the criteria for allocating public resources and investment, which must be consistent with the sustainable, efficient and transparent management of public finances. The allocation of resources must be aligned with national objectives and guarantee the sustainability of the services provided by the State. The criteria 7 8 No further details regarding the modalities of the consultations were provided.