A/HRC/39/56 attention of the Working Group to General Assembly resolution 72/19 on the pattern of conferences, with regard to the utilization of conference-servicing resources. The purpose was to raise awareness that the utilization rate of the Working Group had fallen below the 80 per cent benchmark and to encourage all the session participants to use the allocated time and resources judiciously, taking into consideration the constraints on the limited conference-servicing capacity of the United Nations Office at Geneva. 6. The Working Group subsequently adopted its agenda (A/HRC/WG.2/18/1) and programme of work (A/HRC/WG.2/19/INF.1) with a minor amendment to the text under agenda item 4 (e) proposed by the European Union and supported by Japan (A/HRC/WG.2/19/INF.1/Rev.1). Egypt had initially agreed with the amendment but later noted that the original text had been in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 36/9 on the right to development. 7. During the session, the Working Group considered contributions by States and other stakeholders to the implementation of the right to development, comments and views from relevant stakeholders on the draft right to development criteria and corresponding operational subcriteria and standards for the implementation of the right to development (A/HRC/WG.2/17/2 and A/HRC/WG.2/18/G.1). The Working Group also engaged in an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to development and with experts on the implementation and realization of the right to development. III. Summary of proceedings A. General statements 8. Speaking on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirmed the commitments made at the seventeenth Summit Conference of Heads of State of Government of Non-Aligned Countries. The Non-Aligned Movement firmly believed that the realization of the right to development was a necessity and that the international community must demonstrate its commitment and give the right to development the high profile that it merited. The right to development should be central to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. International cooperation was integral to the implementation and realization of the right to development and could help overcome the lasting global challenges. The Non-Aligned Movement hoped that the Working Group would be able to advance the development of a complete and unique set of standards for the implementation of the right to development. 9. The European Union remained strongly committed to achieving sustainable development and eradicating poverty, promoting human rights, working towards ensuring security, conflict prevention and resolution and encouraging good governance, gender equality, human development, accountability and equitable globalization. Divergent views in the understanding of the right to development remained. It reiterated its support for the right to development, as based on the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights, the multidimensional nature of development strategies and individuals as the central subjects of the development process. The European Union reaffirmed its position that it was not in favour of the elaboration of an international standard of a binding nature. It was willing to continue the consideration of the right to development criteria and subcriteria through a consensual approach. 10. The delegate of Pakistan, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), stated that, after two decades in the Working Group of streamlining elements, criteria and guidelines, it was time to move from discussion to practical action. OIC urged the Working Group to start drawing up an internationally legally binding instrument for the right to development without further delay. It called for flexibility and compromise, in order to move beyond the entrenched positions that had derailed the process to date. 11. Speaking on behalf of the African Group and expressing agreement with the NonAligned Movement, the delegate of Togo expressed a wish to see the finalization of the 4

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