A/HRC/19/70 expressly incorporate the human rights-based approach to development as an explicit and central pillar of the post-2015 development paradigm. 26. During the ensuing interactive debate, interventions were made by the independent expert on human rights and international solidarity, the Asian Legal Resource Centre, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Social Watch, Morocco, the Institute for Social and Economic Studies, the Association for World Citizens, the International Movement ATD Fourth World, Algeria, the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities and Uruguay. Attention was drawn to the possibility of relying on treaty bodies and the universal periodic review mechanism as means to seek implementation of decisions adopted by regional human rights mechanisms, such as in the case of the Endorois. It was underlined that the issue of the right to development could not be separated from good governance, the anti-corruption campaign and accountability. It was discussed whether or not there was a need for a new development framework after 2015, and what could be done to make such a framework compliant with human rights including the right to development. Highlighting the case of evictions in the context of major sporting events and in the name of development and the foreign direct investment associated therewith, one speaker stressed a need to confront this issue in parallel with challenging prevailing neoliberal economic policies. It was specified that good-quality education also meant education relevant to the needs of the population so as to achieve its potential to empower people to realize their right to development. International solidarity was not only relevant in North-South cooperation but also South-South cooperation. It was acknowledged that policies and legislation were not sufficient for achieving the right to development. Achieving that also required practical implementation strategies, knowledgeable personnel and sufficient budgetary allocations. 27. In concluding remarks, the panellists argued, inter alia, that the human rights-based approach brought deeper specificity to the right to development; it could be seen as a framework to advocate the right to development. With regard to “public interest”, it was suggested that a public interest analysis needed to infuse a human rights analysis. As concerned the issue of corruption and impunity and their impact on human rights, it was pointed out that, in cases where multilateral or bilateral donors were involved, leveraging them could be a practical strategy for ensuring human rights compliance and seeking accountability. In order to influence the post-MDG development framework, it was necessary to speak with one voice for a human rights-based approach. In that context, it was also underlined that the Millennium Declaration contained very strong human rights language, which should be brought back to the discussions of the new development agenda. The view was expressed that a new framework was not needed – reaffirming the commitments made under human rights instruments would suffice. However, it was also acknowledged that a post-2015 MDG framework was likely inevitable and thus the need to push for express inclusions of human rights standards was crucial. The need for a fundamental rethinking of the use of energy, consumption patterns and of economic policies was underlined. One of the main concerns with large-scale energy projects, even if they involved renewable forms of energy production, was that they did not often benefit the people living in the affected areas. Such projects often involve high-levels of corruption and lack accountability. On the question of the need for a legally binding instrument on the right to development, the need to focus on implementation was stressed, while the debate continued on whether a binding normative framework was required. It was recognized that many elements of the right to development were already included in legally binding instruments and some were already recognized as customary international law. 2. Social justice and the right to development 28. Kudakwakshe Dube, Chief Executive Officer, Secretariat of the African Decade for Persons with Disabilities, highlighted that development had to improve living conditions 10

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