A/HRC/12/28 page 4 7. At the session, the Working Group considered the report on the fifth session of the high-level task force on the implementation of the right to development, held in Geneva from 1 to 9 April 2009 (A/HRC/12/WG.2/TF/2). III. SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS A. Opening statements 8. The representative of Cuba, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, recalled that the fourteenth summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Havana in September 2006, had called for the elevation of the right to development to the same level and on a par with all other human rights, as well as its full operationalization through the elaboration of a convention. The gap between developed and developing countries continued to grow while obstacles to its realization remained, such as debt burdens, failure to comply with official development assistance commitments, lack of democracy in decision-making in international trade, financial and monetary institutions, and unilateral coercive measures. Millennium Development Goal 8 held the key to the achievement of all the other Millennium Development Goals. Taking note of the report of the task force, the representative said that in accordance with the task force’s work plan, the Working Group should not engage in negotiations on the revised criteria at the current session but rather focus on providing advice on further improvement of the criteria. 9. The representative of the Czech Republic, on behalf of the European Union (EU), reiterated the support of the European Union for the work of the task force and its commitment to the realization of the right to development and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. States had the primary responsibility for the realization of the right to development, and the criteria should focus on the national sphere, including good governance, social justice, equity and participation. The European Union supported a human rights-based approach to development, wherein the focus must be on the rights of individuals. The task force should develop benchmarks and indicators, but should not examine new partnerships. 10. The representative of the Netherlands took the floor to support the position taken by the European Union and noted its efforts to promote development through international cooperation and assistance. The representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland also supported the position of the EU and appreciated the task force’s transparency. Her Government was committed to the realization of the right to development but had yet to be convinced of the value of a legally binding convention. The representative outlined the Government’s active role in promoting the right to development through engagement at the national and international levels and gave examples of development programmes. She welcomed the focus of the task force on putting individuals at the centre of development, on vulnerable groups and promoting gender equality, on best practices developed by both donor and recipient countries and on evidence of the impact of human rights approaches to development. 11. The representative of the United States of America, expressing support for the work of the task force, emphasized that the right to development meant essentially that each individual had the right to develop his or her intellectual or other capabilities to the maximum extent possible through the exercise of the full range of human rights. The representative outlined the various