A/HRC/31/81 14. The Deputy High Commissioner also noted that, while the Millennium Development Goals had led to progress, they were overly focussed on aggregate economic growth. In doing so, they neglected the most vulnerable people. For that reason, fairness and rule of law would have to be extended into the economic sphere and firm commitments to human rights should underpin the work of the United Nations as it worked to define the post-2015 development agenda. For that agenda to be transformative, a forward-looking approach to the measurement of sustainable development would be critical. It was important to invest in the collection of new data that went beyond monitoring averages, so that progress could be monitored for all social groups. B. Keynote speaker and panel discussions 15. The Deputy Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Abbas Bagherpour Ardekani, noted that tolerance and respect for different viewpoints would deepen and enrich the commitment to human rights, which should be based on genuine cooperation and constructive dialogue in all relevant forums, including the universal periodic review. International cooperation should therefore focus on strengthening the ability of States to implement their obligations through appropriate technical cooperation and capacity-building upon their request. 16. Mr. Abbas was of the view that cultural diversity should be a source of unity rather than division and used as a vehicle for creativity, social justice, tolerance and understanding, not as a rationale for ideological and political confrontation. The complex contemporary challenges called for global solutions and the bringing about of a democratic and equitable international order. International cooperation could help to address emerging challenges in different social, economic and cultural fields. Innovative mechanisms should be strengthened to accelerate the implementation of the right to development, which needed closer attention. The right to development should be given a high profile and be placed at the heart of the post-2015 development agenda. 17. The Executive Director of the South Centre, Martin Khor, noted that international cooperation was needed, as national actions to realize human rights were insufficient. Economic globalization influenced the way in which States were able to conduct human rights policies. For instance, in some States, sovereign debt prevented the Government from providing basic services to its citizens. In some cases, developing countries had become dependent on food aid as a result of the withdrawal of agricultural subsidies, the lowering of tariffs and the inflow of cheap, subsidized foodstuffs. In the area of health, access to medicines remained problematic. In particular, the clash between the realization of the right to health and the strict observance of intellectual property regulation impeded advances in that area. 18. Mr. Khor stressed the need to re-examine the international system of trade, technology, intellectual property and financial investments. He proposed the following: international organizations should examine the impact of their policies on the realization of human rights; States should consider the effects of their policies on the realization of human rights abroad; and the Human Rights Council should further discuss how to mainstream human rights in the international economic and social system. Furthermore, the Secretariat should be given resources to study the effects of policies and take advantage of the post-2015 development agenda, with a view to mainstreaming human rights. 19. The former Director-General of the International Labour Organization and Special Adviser on Interregional Policy Cooperation, Juan Somavía, addressed the issue of the post-2015 development agenda and the centrality of the right to development. He pointed out that, during past conferences on those topics, it had been concluded that problems 5