A/HRC/39/56 63. The delegate of the Syrian Arab Republic spoke of the development of national legislation, laws and policies to guarantee sustainable development, for instance, laws and financial policies that ensured minimum wages and income equality. There were measures to ensure equality and deal with discriminatory policies and practices. The country had adopted poverty alleviation programmes, provided social insurance, rural development measures, social protection programmes and empowerment of women initiatives. It had cooperated with a number of United Nations agencies to realize Sustainable Development Goals and, despite the enormous challenges faced, it remain committed and was making all possible efforts to implement the Goals. 64. The representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela spoke of its comprehensive approach to the implementation of the right to development. It had promoted integration models in the regional and international spheres, based on international cooperation and solidarity. Highlights included the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America, the Union of South American Nations, PetroCaribe and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. It had developed a participatory policy promoting dialogue, gender perspectives, inclusion and non-discrimination. The representative made reference to the national human rights action plan 2016–2019 and emphasized the need for a profound transformation of the economic system to eradicate poverty and realize the right to development. 65. The delegate of South Africa spoke of the country’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, on the basis of both the national development plan and the current medium-term strategic framework and on the Constitution, which spoke to a variety of rights aligned to the right to development. Implementation was facilitated by the involvement of all relevant line-function departments across the Government. Intense task team exercises had been created for matters relating to sustainable development and to fasttrack the Government’s delivery programme, called Operation Phakisa. The delegate noted the country’s regional efforts, funding gaps, a knowledge hub related to the Goals and the African Union-United Nations Framework for the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which envisioned stronger coordination between the two organizations to contribute positively to people-centred and planetsensitive structural transformation in Africa. 66. The delegate of Ecuador noted that the country had incorporated Sustainable Development Goals into the relevant national development plan (called “One life”), which ensured human rights across the entire life cycle for all individuals. The plan also sought full economic fulfilment at the national and global levels, full citizenship, transparency and the fight against corruption, ensuring sovereignty and the promotion of peace. This was constructed on the basis of dialogue and on a democratic process based on their common interest, enshrined in diversity. In terms of inequalities, Ecuador provided for cooperation in specific spheres, linked to international priorities, the rights of persons with disabilities, the eradication of discrimination and the roll-out of projects all across Latin America and the Caribbean. The delegate underlined the importance of strategic funding in order to work towards sustainable development on the basis of common and shared principles, and urged all States to mobilize resources, both private and public, and identify priorities among different development objectives. 67. The representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia spoke of the national development plan, which was within the framework of integrated development for living well national development plan 2006–2011. The plans were oriented towards the strengthening of an integral State and well-being and coordination between different levels of government, whereby democratic autonomy and economic sovereignty were bolstered. This would facilitate people’s access to basic fundamental services and the implementation of a new environmental model. The representative referred to the country’s growth and poverty reduction efforts and the policy of investment in various sectors in the light of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The country was convinced that the right to development was inherent and was bound to a culture of peace and cooperation based on mutual knowledge, respect and cultural diversity. 68. The representative from Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII stated that it was involved in a wide range of social activities and development initiatives at grass-roots 14