A/HRC/4/47
page 10
the principle of sustainable development, given the link between development and the
environment.
36. Another delegate underlined the importance of engaging civil society and ensuring the
participation of the most marginalized in partnerships under review. Some delegates also
underlined the importance of clarifying that the criteria equally applied to all parties to a
partnership.
37. On the recommendations for a continued dialogue with the partnerships that were reviewed
by the task force, and the addition of new partnerships, some delegates reiterated the fact that all
the previous partnerships reviewed by the task force were related to Africa and requested that the
review in the next phase of the task force activities be limited to the Cotonou partnership,
without excluding the possibility of reviewing other partnerships at a later stage.
38. Several delegates and groups reiterated their position that the work of the task force
contribute to an eventual elaboration of a convention on the right to development. However,
other delegations and groups opposed any reference to starting work on drafting such a
convention or an automatic link between the work of the task force and a convention. The
Chairperson of the Working Group called upon the delegates to focus on common ground, such
as the importance of the right to development and the primary objective of its implementation
and realization. The Chairperson pointed out that the work of the task force was focused on
precision of the content of the right to development, which would be a prerequisite for any move
towards an international legal instrument on the right to development.
39. Concerning the recommendation that the task force undertake technical missions to continue
the dialogue with the partnerships hitherto considered, as well as to continue the work on refining
the criteria, Japan stated that it reserved its position on the possibility of undertaking such
missions in the context of negotiations concerning a resolution on the right to development at the
fourth session of the Human Rights Council.
40. Finally the proposal to add two days to the next meeting of the task force was supported by
the Working Group, as well as the recommendation to request the Human Rights Council to
renew the mandate of the Working Group and the task force for a period of two years.
B. Consideration of the reports of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights
41. The Working Group considered the reports of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights on the right to development (E/CN.4/2006/26 and A/HRC/4/55), which were
presented by the secretariat, and discussed the type of support that the Working Group and the
task force would need from OHCHR for the work ahead. Both the Chairperson of the task force
and the Chairperson of the Working Group expressed their deep appreciation for the high-quality
level of substantive and material support and assistance provided by the Secretariat on this
mandate and stated that the support of the Secretariat in continuing reviews of the previous
partnerships, as well as in reviewing new partnerships, would be essential.
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