A/HRC/12/WG.2/TF/2 page 3 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development convened its fifth session in Geneva from 1 to 9 April 2009, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 9/3. 2. The task force was established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2004/7 as endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in its decision 2004/249, within the framework of the intergovernmental open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development, in order to assist it in fulfilling its mandate as reflected in paragraph 10 (a) of Commission resolution 1998/7. 3. In its resolution 2005/4, the Commission requested the task force to examine Millennium Development Goal 8 and to suggest criteria for its periodic evaluation with the aim of improving the effectiveness of global partnerships with regard to the realization of the right to development. 4. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 9/3, and the General Assembly, in its resolution 63/178, endorsed the workplan for the task force for the period 2008-2010, as recommended by the Working Group in its report on its ninth session (A/HRC/9/17, para. 43). II. ORGANIZATION OF THE SESSION 5. The session was opened by the Director of the Research and Right to Development Division of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Marcia V. J. Kran. Thereafter, the Chairperson of the Working Group on the Right to Development, Arjun Sengupta, delivered welcome remarks. 6. At its first meeting, on 1 April 2009, the task force elected by acclamation Stephen Marks as Chairperson-Rapporteur and adopted its agenda (A/HRC/12/WG.2/TF/1) and programme of work (see annex I). 7. At the session, the task force focused on the implementation of phases II and III of its work plan as reflected in paragraph 43 of the report of the Working Group. 8. The task force had before it a number of pre-session and background documents to inform its deliberations (see annex III). III. STATEMENTS BY INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS 9. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) welcomed the continued engagement of the task force in reviewing and improving the framework for evaluating the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals from the perspective of the right to development. Attention was drawn to the MDG8 Gap Report, issued in September 2008, which acknowledged progress on several counts, although important gaps remained in delivering on the global commitments in the areas of aid, trade, debt relief and access to new technologies and affordable medicines. Notwithstanding the weakening of the world economy, the report made clear that strengthened global partnerships and urgent responses were needed in the countdown