A/HRC/45/21
energy), science, technology and innovation, and private sector development varies
substantially among and within countries, with further disparities being recorded in respect
of women and some underserved or unserved communities, especially in rural areas. 92
Foreign direct investment in the least developed countries is concentrated in the extractive
industries, especially in Africa. Concentration in extractivism often contributes to noninclusive growth and provides few development opportunities to local populations.93 The
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia
and related intolerance has argued that extractivism requires a structural racial equality
analysis at the global and local levels that addresses historical patterns of racial
discrimination. 94 Businesses should respect human rights 95 and States are under the
obligation to take steps to prevent and provide redress for infringements of human rights
that occur outside their territories due to the activities of business entities over which they
can exercise control, including those engaged in foreign direct investments. 96 Consideration
should be given to how States and international organizations can use public procurement
to build back better and to how procurement decisions can contribute to developing the
national economies of the least developed countries, respecting human rights and achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals.
52.
The Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries included the goal of
doubling the share of the least developed countries’ exports in global exports by 2020, 97
which would further contribute to mobilizing resources to these countries. Progress has
been made in terms of duty-free and quota-free market access, promoting transparent and
predictable rules of origin applicable to imports from the least developed countries, and
other special and differential treatment provisions. In contrast, the least developed countries’
share of world merchandise exports deteriorated during most years between 2011 and
2018.98 Addressing development challenges related to the remoteness and landlockedness
of many least developed countries will require accelerated implementation of the SIDS
Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway 99 and the Vienna Programme of
Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024100 based on the
outcomes of their respective midterm reviews. 101
53.
The environmental vulnerability index is composed of indicators on the instability of
agricultural production, the share of the population living in low elevated coastal zones, the
share of the population living in drylands and victims of disaster. In the least developed
countries, the value added per worker in agriculture increased by 12 per cent between 2011
and 2018. 102 The percentage of arable land equipped with irrigation systems remained
constant, despite challenges posed by desertification in some regions. Climate financing
received by the least developed countries still falls far short of the $93 billion annual
requirement, according to one estimate, to fund both mitigation and adaptation measures
post-2020.103 With an increase in the number of threats of natural disasters, including due to
climate change and other external shocks, improvement in this criterion becomes even more
relevant to the enjoyment of human rights. Development partners and the least developed
countries should implement the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction for 2015–2030 and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework considering
guidance by human rights mechanisms on the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable
environment.104
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
A/75/72, paras. 9–17.
Ibid., paras. 61–65.
A/HRC/41/54.
www.ohchr.org/documents/publications/guidingprinciplesbusinesshr_en.pdf, p. 13.
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 24, paras. 30–35.
A/CONF.219/3/Rev.1, annex, para. 65 (a).
A/75/72, paras. 20–26.
General Assembly resolution 69/15, annex.
Ibid., resolution 69/137, annex II.
Ibid., resolutions 74/15 and 74/3.
A/75/72, paras. 18–19.
Ibid., paras. 48–49.
E.g., A/HRC/43/53 and Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, general
recommendation No. 37.
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