Right to development |

Inequalities within countries and between so-called developed and developing countries continue to grow. According to the Global Inequality Report 2022 : “The richest 10% of the world’s population earn 52% of global income, while the poorest half earn only 8%. And an individual in the top 10% of income earns an average of 87,200 euros a year, while those in the bottom 50% earn 2,800 euros. Inequalities in wealth are even more pronounced than in income. The poorest half of the world’s population has virtually no wealth, owning just 2% of the total. Conversely, the richest 10% own 76% of it “.¹

In fact, the catastrophic spread of these inequalities and consequent poverty on a global scale makes it imperative to implement and promote the right to development.

The Declaration on the Right to Development (DRD) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1986. It results from efforts of the Non Aligned Movement to establish a fairer and more equitable New International Economic Order. The DRD opposes the dominant ideology in which economic growth is the primary objective of development.

On the contrary, the DRD asserts that the human person – individually and above all, collectively – is at the heart of all activity not only economic but also social, political and cultural. In this sense, it must be the central subject and not merely the object, of a development process that is based on people’s active, free and meaningful participation.

The objective of the Right to Development is to achieve self-determination and sovereignty of peoples regarding their choice of development model, in a spirit of equality and mutual respect. The Right to Development also implies that the benefits of development be distributed equitably. The DRD postulates that all States, individually and collectively, adopt as a priority, the realization of all human rights (civil, political, economic, social and cultural). After tough negotiations over the wording of the text, a number of powerful Northern states tried to scrap it, to soften it and even to misrepresent its content. Constantly attacked by these states, the DRD has never been implemented. It directly opposes current political policies, in particular those of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the G7 and NATO. The policies of these institutions run counter to the aspirations of peoples of the South to autonomy and self-reliant development.

Nevertheless, thanks to the perseverance of many countries of the Non Aligned Movement (which today includes more than 120 states) and China, a process to develop a draft Convention on the Right to Development has been initiated recently at the United Nations. The aim is to make the Right to Development “operational”. In October 2023, the UN Human Rights Council on the right to development adopted the latest version of the draft Covenant (the term finally chosen instead of Convention). This text should shortly be ratified by the UN General Assembly. CETIM made an active contribution to the debates on this issue.

Indeed, for more than two decades, our association has been working within the UN to ensure that the right to development is not forgotten. We are vigilant to ensure that the content of the future Covenant on this right is not distorted. We are also making sure that its implementation is no longer systematically hindered but, on the contrary, given a real boost.

Draft Pact at the UN General Assembly

After its 54th session (October 2023), The Human Rights Council decided[1], with 29 votes in favour[2], 13 against[3] and 5 abstentions[4], to submit the Pact on the Right to Development to the General Assembly of the UN “for examination, negotiation then adoption”. Initiated in 2019 by the Non-Aligned Movement (comprising more than 120 Southern Countries), […]

Consideration of the annual report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 54th session (11 September – 13 October 2023) In his annual report, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development confuses development, which is necessarily a process, with the right to development, which is a right as defined in article 1 of the Declaration. Read the CETIM’s oral statement in French Watch […]

Review of the reports of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 54th session (11 September – 13 October 2023) The future convention on the right to development is clearly not a compromise that will satisfy everyone. However, it is an instrument that we believe will contribute to the establishment of a democratic and equitable international order, to the establishment of international cooperation in […]

The Convention on the Right to Development on the right track

From 15 to 19 May 2023, the 24th session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development was held in Geneva to examine the second revised draft convention on this right. The CETIM took an active part in the debates. During the negotiations on the new version of the draft convention, we observed […]

The Convention on the Right to Development on the right track

PRESS RELEASE Geneva, May 31st – From 15 to 19 May 2023, the 24th session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development was held in Geneva to examine the second revised draft convention on this right. The CETIM took an active part in the debates.

Right to development

Consideration of the annual report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development

Review of the reports of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development

The Convention on the Right to Development on the right track

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