12:30-14:00 ICT

Reinvigorating the Right to Development: Consultation for 2023 reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development

Organized by United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to development

Background

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The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 33/14 of 29 September 2016, established the mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to development. The mandate was recently extended by resolution 51/7. Mr. Surya Deva was appointed Special Rapporteur for a period of three years and took up his functions on 1 May 2023. 

When establishing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur, the Human Rights Council emphasized the urgent need to make the right to development a reality for everyone in line with the 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development. The right to development is the right of every human being to participate in, to contribute to, and to benefit from economic, social, cultural and political development. The right to development provides a comprehensive approach to the realisation of human rights by giving attention to structures, processes and outcomes; recognising the entitlements of individuals as well as collectives, including future generations. It puts equity, equality and justice as primary determinants of development, and promotes the full realisation of fundamental freedoms.

In 2023, the Special Rapporteur will be presenting two reports: (i) a report to the Human Rights Council in September 2023 outlining a vision for the future in “reinvigorating the right to development” and (ii) a report to the General Assembly in October 2023 on “the role of business in realizing the right to development” in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other relevant international human rights instruments. The Special Rapporteur seeks to collect information regarding these two thematic reports and possible priorities for the work of the mandate during the next three years in the context of other relevant agendas.

In this connection, the Special Rapporteur intends to convene an in person consultation in Bangkok during the 2023 UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia Pacific. All stakeholders such as States, international organizations, national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, trade unions, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, community organizations, research centres, academia, lawyers, law firms, development finance institutions, businesses, and industry associations are invited to join the consultation.

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About the session

The session highlights the impacts of HREDD on manufacturers in Cambodia and Bangladesh and how support structures in the production countries such as Responsible Business Hubs (RBHs) are assisting the actors of the global supply Chains. The session will share country experiences from Asia.

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Objectives

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In order to inform his work, the Special Rapporteur wishes to collect input on the following specific issues:

A. HRC Report (September 2023) – “Reinvigorating the right to development: A vision for the future”

1. What have been the most important achievements for the implementation of the right to development at the national, regional and international levels in the past decade?

2. What are the key remaining challenges in the effective realization of the right to development at different levels?

3. How could the right to development be mainstreamed and integrated into other relevant agendas (including the 2030 Agenda) at the national, regional and international levels?

4. What steps have been taken to realize the right to development of vulnerable or marginalized individuals and communities? Have these been effective?

5. How can the role of actors such as development agencies, international financial institutions, businesses, universities, civil society and the media be harnessed to contribute to the realization of the right to development?

6. What more should be done to strengthen cooperation among States as well as collaboration with various non-State actors in realizing the right to development?

B. UNGA report (October 2023) – “Role of businesses in realizing the right to development”

1. What laws, policies and incentives are in place (or should be introduced) to encourage businesses to contribute to the effective realization of the right to development?

2. What steps are being taken to ensure that businesses provide adequate living wages to their employees/workers throughout their operations and adopt responsible purchasing practices?

3. How do businesses ensure that development projects do not result in environmental pollution and/or forced displacement of communities, including indigenous peoples?

4. Are the existing regulatory frameworks at the national, regional and international levels adequate to ensure that businesses do not evade paying taxes to States?

5. What are the good practices about businesses trying to bridge the digital divide and/or ensure the safe use of technologies by vulnerable population such as children, elderly and minorities?

6. How can States and other actors (e.g., national human rights institutions, development finance institutions and businesses) provide effective remedies to individuals and communities alleging breach of the right to development?

C. Thematic priorities for 2023-2026

1. What issues should the Special Rapporteur focus on during the next three years of his mandate for the effective realization of the right to development at the local, national, regional and international levels?

2. What are the main challenges faced in realizing the right to development? Are there any good practices and effective strategies in overcoming these challenges?

3. What actions should be taken to ensure the integration of the right to development in other agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals, business and human rights, protection of the environment, climate change, discrimination, migration, peace and security, development finance, trade and investment agreements, new technologies, civic space, and access to justice?

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Contacts

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If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Ms. Antoanela Pavlova, Human Rights Officer supporting the Special Rapporteur mandate at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva (+41 22 917 93 31, antoanela.pavlova@un.org or hrc-sr-development@un.org).