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realization of human rights); and (c) a sustainable development process that promotes growth
with equity and aims at a constant improvement of well-being (art. 2(3)).
104. The enabling environment component of the right to development follows from article 3
of the Declaration, according to which States have the duty to take steps, individually and
collectively, to create the enabling environment, internationally and nationally, for the full
realization of the right. In doing so, it stipulates that States should take steps to eliminate
obstacles to development resulting from failure to observe civil and political rights, as well as
economic, social and cultural rights (art. 6(3)). One related aspect is that, while acknowledging
that the State is the primary duty-bearer of the right, the Declaration emphasizes the importance
of international cooperation in the realization of the right to development (art. 4(2)).
105. The social justice and equity component or attribute of the right to development follows
from the emphasis laid on eradication of all social injustices in the Declaration (art. 5 and 6(1)).
Social justice is a vital aspect of the right to development framework, requiring action by
national governments individually and collectively. It emphasizes the moral imperatives of
eliminating inequalities among people and dismantling the institutional structures primarily
related to the acts of omission and commission of the principal duty-bearers that help to
perpetuate those inequalities at both the national and international levels. Ultimately, the
realization of the right to development (art. 8(1)) should ensure, inter alia, equality of
opportunity for all in their access to basic resources, education, health services, food, housing,
employment and the fair distribution of income. There are at least three elements that may have
to be encompassed in criteria on this attribute of the right to development: (a) a focus on nondiscrimination and inclusion (art. 5), inter alia, all forms of racism and racial discrimination,
foreign domination and occupation, aggression and threats against national sovereignty, unity
and territorial integrity; (b) gender equality and rights of women in development (art. 8(1)); and
(c) the importance of an equitable sharing of benefits from development. It also includes
emphasis on social safety nets in mitigating hardships and dislocative effects during times of
economic crisis, stress or natural disasters.
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS
A.
Global partnerships
106. The task force proposes continuing the dialogue with partnerships already reviewed
in order to draw additional lessons from their compliance with the right to development
criteria and to encourage these partnerships to integrate right to development principles.
Specifically, the task force recommends:
(a) A technical mission on the African Peer Review Mechanism to extend its
dialogue to other African institutions, including the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights, with a view to ensuring that the country reviews and
questionnaires, the preparatory process for the next high-level meeting on the Paris
Declaration in 2011, and the national plans of action build on commitments of the
African States concerned to the right to development;
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