PHM-Exch> 25th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development

[Claudio Schuftan]

*The 25th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development*

* *

* Joint Statement of the Chairpersons of the UN Treaty Bodies
*

* *

The 4th of December 2011 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption
by the General Assembly of the Declaration on the Right to Development (the
Declaration).[1] <#_ftn1>



In our capacity as Chairpersons of the United Nations human rights treaty
bodies set up to monitor the implementation of the core human rights treaty
obligations at the national level, we welcome the commemoration of this
special anniversary of the Declaration. We believe that this anniversary
provides a unique and timely opportunity to reiterate the principles and
elements set out in the Declaration.



It is significant that the Declaration, in its definition of the right to
development,[2] <#_ftn2> does not reduce development to purely economic
aspirations or goals but articulates a broad, comprehensive understanding of
development at national and international levels. The right to development
finds clear resonance in various human rights treaty provisions, which
emphasize the multi-faceted, multi-dimensional and complex nature of
development processes and the need for development to be inclusive,
equitable and sustainable.



The Declaration indeed proclaims that all human rights and fundamental
freedoms are indivisible and interdependent and equal attention must be paid
to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights[3] <#_ftn3>. In
fact, there are many similarities and striking complementarities between the
Declaration and the human rights treaties. Many elements of the right to
development are reflected in human rights treaty provisions and
jurisprudence of treaty bodies, including on self-determination; fair
distribution of resources; equality and non-discrimination, particularly on
grounds of sex, gender, age, race and disability; active, free and
meaningful participation; accountability and transparency; substantive
rights relating to adequate standard of living, including food, water and
sanitation, housing,  health services, education, employment, enjoyment of
culture; freedom of expression, assembly and association; and international
assistance and cooperation.



For all the reasons given, we are resolved to make a concerted effort to
promote a development-informed and interdependence-based reading of all
human rights treaties, so as to highlight and emphasize the relevance and
importance of the right to development in interpreting and applying human
rights treaty provisions and in monitoring compliance with these provisions.
In this way, we shall contribute to further the realization of the right to
development by ensuring that the necessary conditions are in place for
achieving economic and social progress and development for all, including
vulnerable individuals and groups.



Mr. Abdelhamid EL JAMRI            Committee on Migrant Workers (CMW)

Mr. Malcolm EVANS                      Sub-Committee on Prevention of
Torture OPCAT (SPT)

Mr. Claudio GROSSMAN               Committee Against Torture (CAT)

Mr. Anwar KEMAL                       Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination (CERD)

Ms. Zonke MAJODINA                  Human Rights Committee (CCPR)

Mr. Ronald Clive McCALLUM      Committee on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD)

Mr. Ariranga PILLAY                     Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (CESCR)

Ms. Silvia PIMENTEL                    Committee on Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Mr. Jean ZERMATTEN                   Committee on the Rights of the Child
(CRC)


1 July 2011, Geneva

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[1] <#_ftnref1>UN Doc. A/RES/41/128, 4 December 1986.

[2] <#_ftnref2>Article 1

[3] <#_ftnref3>Article 6(2) of the Declaration
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