Introductory Remarks: Ambassador Amr Ramadan
It gives me great pleasure to moderate this important panel discussion on the promotion and protection of the right to development pursuant to HRC resolution 31/4. The importance of this event emanates not only from its theme per se, but also from the recent occurrence of significant developments that are intrinsically related to the realization of the right to development in its diverse aspects.
While we celebrate this year the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, as an inalienable and independent human right, which encompasses a diverse myriad of economic, social, cultural and political rights, we view with concern that the progress achieved thus far in the realization of the right to development has been uneven, as is amply demonstrated in Africa, the Middle East, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states.
However, the past year has witnessed the adoption of 3 important instruments that pave the way for realizing the aspirational vision once embodied in the Declaration on the Right to Development; namely the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development and the Paris Climate Agreement. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular, constitutes an important vehicle for the realization of the right to development. It sets a transformative vision for people that aims at the realization of various human rights which form part and parcel of the right to development.
It is important to affirm that –as the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action recognizes- while lasting progress towards the implementation of the right to development requires effective development policies at the national level, it necessitates as well the formation of equitable economic relations and the creation of a favourable economic environment at the international level.
It is as well important in this context to highlight the pivotal role played by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development, created within the framework of this august council, whose mandate consists mainly in monitoring and reviewing progress made in the promotion and implementation of the right to development as elaborated in the Declaration on the Right to Development, at the national and international levels. It is hoped that the progress achieved in the work of the Working Group, in particular during its last two sessions by means of formulating a set of standards for the implementation of the right to development, may assist current endeavors exerted to that end.
Last but not least, it is noteworthy to underline that the vision of the Declaration on the right to development must be the guiding force in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, in a comprehensive, equitable and balanced process that addresses the main pillars of development; namely economic, social and environmental pillars, by means of, inter alia, enhancing international cooperation and exchange of expertise, in such a way that ultimately “leaves no one behind”.
H.E. Mr. Amr Ramadan is the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva. He moderated the Panel discussion on the promotion and protection of the right to development in commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development during the 32nd Session of the Human Rights Council.
