A/HRC/24/27
development priorities or imperil the achievement of sustainable development outcomes.
This requires that the Bank gives due weight to international human rights standards and
related obligations of its member States.
IV. Conclusions and recommendations
29.
The year 2013 marks the twentieth anniversary of the World Conference on
Human Rights in Vienna. The Conference adopted by consensus the Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action which reaffirmed the right to development, as
established in the Declaration on the Right to Development, as a universal and
inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights. Three
overarching themes were at the heart of the World Conference: the universality of
human rights, the importance of democratic participation and the imperative of
development.
30.
The specific entitlement of the right to development is the right “to participate
in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development”. This
basic entitlement includes a number of constituent elements. Among them are:
(a)
People-centred development: the Declaration identifies “the human
person” as the central subject, participant and beneficiary of development;
(b)
A human rights-based approach: the Declaration specifically requires
that development be carried out in a manner “in which all human rights and
fundamental freedoms can be fully realized”;
(c)
Participation: the Declaration calls for the “active, free and meaningful
participation” of people in development;
(d)
Equity: the Declaration underlines the need for “the fair distribution of
the benefits” of development;
(e)
Non-discrimination: the Declaration permits no “distinction as to race,
sex, language or religion”;
(f)
Self-determination: the Declaration integrates self-determination,
including full sovereignty over natural resources, as a constituent element of the right
to development.
31.
Equally explicit are the prescriptions provided by the Declaration for the
implementation of this right. Among them are:
(a)
policies;
The formulation of appropriate national and international development
(b)
Effective international cooperation;
(c)
Reforms at the national and international levels;
(d)
Removal of obstacles to development, inter alia, human rights violations,
racism, colonialism, occupation and aggression;
(e)
Promotion of peace and disarmament, and the redirecting of savings
generated therefrom to development.
32.
The right to development is not confined to declarations, summit outcomes or
political debates within the United Nations. Real democratic participation can be
measured by the extent to which – in the words of the Declaration on the Right to
Development – active, free and meaningful participation determines policy and law.
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