Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December 2007  [on the report of the Third Committee (A/62/439/Add.2)]  62/161. The right to development        The General Assembly,    Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, which expresses, in particular,  the determination to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger  freedom, as well as to employ international mechanisms for the promotion of the  economic and social advancement of all peoples,     Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,0F 1  as well as the  International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights1F2 and the International Covenant  on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 0H2    Recalling also the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences and  summits in the economic and social fields,     Recalling further that the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted  by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986, confirmed  that the right to development is an inalienable human right and that equality of  opportunity for development is a prerogative both of nations and of individuals who  make up nations, and that the individual is the central subject and beneficiary of  development,     Stressing that the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action2F3 reaffirmed the  right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of  fundamental human rights, and the individual as the central subject and beneficiary  of development,     Reaffirming the objective of making the right to development a reality for  everyone, as set out in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted by the  General Assembly on 8 September 2000, 3F4    Deeply concerned that the majority of indigenous peoples in the world live in  conditions of poverty, and recognizing the critical need to address the negative  _______________  1 Resolution 217 A (III).  2 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.  3 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.  4 See resolution 55/2.   A/RES/62/161  2  impact of poverty and inequity on indigenous peoples by ensuring their full and  effective inclusion in development and poverty eradication programmes,    Reaffirming the universality, indivisibility, interrelatedness, interdependence  and mutually reinforcing nature of all civil, cultural, economic, political and social  rights, including the right to development,     Expressing concern over the suspension of the trade negotiations of the World  Trade Organization, and stressing the need for a successful outcome of the Doha  Development Round in key areas such as agriculture, market access for  non-agricultural products, trade facilitation, development and services,     Recalling the outcome of the eleventh session of the United Nations  Conference on Trade and Development, held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 13 to  18 June 2004, on the theme “Enhancing the coherence between national  development strategies and global economic processes towards economic growth  and development, particularly of developing countries”,4F5    Recalling also all its previous resolutions, Human Rights Council resolution  4/4 of 30 March 2007, 5F 6  previous resolutions of the Council and those of the  Commission on Human Rights on the right to development, in particular  Commission resolution 1998/72 of 22 April 1998,6F 7 on the urgent need to make  further progress towards the realization of the right to development as set out in the  Declaration on the Right to Development,     Welcoming the outcome of the eighth session of the Working Group on the  Right to Development of the Human Rights Council, held in Geneva from  26 February to 2 March 2007, as contained in the report of the Working Group, 7F8    Recalling the Fourteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of  Non-Aligned Countries, held in Havana on 15 and 16 September 2006, the  Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned  Countries, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on 29 and 30 May 2006, and the Fourteenth  Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Durban,  South Africa, from 17 to 19 August 2004,     Reiterating its continuing support for the New Partnership for Africa’s  Development 8F9 as a development framework for Africa,     Recognizing that poverty is an affront to human dignity,     Recognizing also that extreme poverty and hunger are the greatest global  threat that requires the collective commitment of the international community for its  eradication, pursuant to millennium development goal 1, and therefore calling upon  the international community, including the Human Rights Council, to contribute  towards achieving that goal,     Recognizing further that historical injustices have undeniably contributed to  the poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization, social exclusion, economic  _______________  5 See TD/412.  6 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/62/53),  chap. III, sect. A.  7 See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II,  sect. A.  8 A/HRC/4/47.  9 A/57/304, annex.   A/RES/62/161  3  disparity, instability and insecurity that affect many people in different parts of the  world, in particular in developing countries,     Stressing that poverty eradication is one of the critical elements in the  promotion and realization of the right to development and that poverty is a  multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted and integrated approach in  addressing economic, political, social, environmental and institutional dimensions at  all levels, especially in the context of the millennium development goal of halving,  by 2015, the proportion of the world’s people whose income is less than one dollar a  day and the proportion of people who suffer from hunger,     1.  Endorses the conclusions and recommendations adopted by consensus by  the Working Group on the Right to Development of the Human Rights Council at its  eighth session, 1H8 and calls for their immediate, full and effective implementation by  the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and other  relevant actors;     2.  Supports the realization of the mandate of the Working Group as renewed  for a period of two years by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 4/4,2H6 with  the recognition that the Working Group will convene annual sessions of five  working days and present its reports to the Council;    3.  Also supports the realization of the mandate of the high-level task force  on the implementation of the right to development, established within the  framework of the Working Group, as renewed for a period of two years by the  Human Rights Council in its resolution 4/4, with the further recognition that the task  force will convene annual sessions of seven working days and present its reports to  the Working Group;    4.  Emphasizes the relevant provisions of General Assembly resolution  60/251 of 15 March 2006 establishing the Human Rights Council, and in this regard  calls upon the Council to implement the agreement:    (a)  To promote and advance sustainable development and the achievement of  the Millennium Development Goals;     (b)  To agree on a programme of work that will lead to raising the right to  development, as set out in paragraphs 5 and 10 of the Vienna Declaration and  Programme of Action,3H3 to the same level and on a par with all other human rights  and fundamental freedoms;     5.  Notes with appreciation that the high-level task force, at its second  meeting, examined millennium development goal 8, on developing a global  partnership for development, and suggested criteria for its periodic evaluation with  the aim of improving the effectiveness of global partnership with regard to the  realization of the right to development; 9F10     6.  Stresses the importance of endorsement of the road map outlined in  paragraphs 52 to 54 of the report of the Working Group on its eighth session, which  would ensure that the criteria for the periodic evaluation of global partnerships, as  identified in millennium development goal 8, prepared by the high-level task force  and being progressively developed and refined by the Working Group, are extended  to other components of millennium development goal 8 no later than 2009;  _______________  10 See E/CN.4/2005/WG.18/TF/3.   A/RES/62/161  4    7.  Also stresses that the above criteria, as endorsed by the Working Group,  should be used, as appropriate, in the elaboration of a comprehensive and coherent  set of standards for the implementation of the right to development;     8.  Emphasizes the importance that, upon completion of the above phases,  the Working Group take appropriate steps for ensuring respect for and practical  application of these standards, which could take various forms, including guidelines  on the implementation of the right to development, and evolve into a basis for  consideration of an international legal standard of a binding nature, through a  collaborative process of engagement;     9.  Stresses the importance of the core principles contained in the  conclusions of the Working Group at its third session,10F11 congruent with the purpose  of international human rights instruments, such as equality, non-discrimination,  accountability,  participation  and  international  cooperation,  as  critical  to  mainstreaming the right to development at the national and international levels, and  underlines the importance of the principles of equity and transparency;     10. Also stresses that it is important that the high-level task force and the  Working Group, in the discharge of their mandates, take into account the need:     (a)  To promote the democratization of the system of international  governance in order to increase the effective participation of developing countries in  international decision-making;    (b)  To also promote effective partnerships such as the New Partnership for  Africa’s Development 4H9 and other similar initiatives with the developing countries,  particularly the least developed countries, for the purpose of the realization of their  right to development, including the achievement of the Millennium Development  Goals;     (c)  To strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and realization of the  right to development at the international level, while urging all States to undertake  at the national level the necessary policy formulation and to institute the measures  required for the implementation of the right to development as a fundamental human  right, and also urging all States to expand and deepen mutually beneficial  cooperation in ensuring development and eliminating obstacles to development in  the context of promoting effective international cooperation for the realization of  the right to development, bearing in mind that lasting progress towards the  implementation of the right to development requires effective development policies  at the national level as well as equitable economic relations and a favourable  economic environment at the international level;     (d)  To consider ways and means to continue to ensure the operationalization  of the right to development as a priority, including through further consideration of  the elaboration of a convention on the right to development;     (e)  To mainstream the right to development in the policies and operational  activities of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, programmes and  funds, as well as in policies and strategies of the international financial and  multilateral trading systems, taking into account in this regard that the core  principles of the international economic, commercial and financial spheres, such as  equity,  non-discrimination,  transparency,  accountability,  participation  and  _______________  11 E/CN.4/2002/28/Rev.1, sect. VIII.A.   A/RES/62/161  5  international cooperation, including effective partnerships for development, are  indispensable in achieving the right to development and preventing discriminatory  treatment arising out of political or other non-economic considerations, in  addressing the issues of concern to the developing countries;     11. Requests the Human Rights Council to ensure that its Advisory  Committee pursues the ongoing work of the Subcommission on the Promotion and  Protection of Human Rights on the right to development, in accordance with the  relevant provisions of General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights  resolutions, and in compliance with decisions to be taken by the Human Rights  Council, and requests the Secretary-General to report on progress in this regard to  the Assembly at its sixty-third session;     12. Invites Member States and all other stakeholders to participate actively in  future sessions of the Social Forum, while recognizing the strong support extended  to the Forum at its previous four sessions by the Subcommission on the Promotion  and Protection of Human Rights;     13. Reaffirms the commitment to implement the goals and targets set out in  all the outcome documents of the major United Nations conferences and summits  and their review processes, in particular those relating to the realization of the right  to development, recognizing that the realization of the right to development is  critical to achieving the objectives, goals and targets set in those outcome  documents;     14. Also reaffirms that the realization of the right to development is essential  to the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which  regards all human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated,  places the human person at the centre of development and recognizes that, while  development facilitates the enjoyment of all human rights, the lack of development  may not be invoked to justify the abridgement of internationally recognized human  rights;     15. Stresses that the primary responsibility for the promotion and protection  of all human rights lies with the State, and reaffirms that States have the primary  responsibility for their own economic and social development and that the role of  national policies and development strategies cannot be overemphasized;     16. Reaffirms the primary responsibility of States to create national and  international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development, as  well as their commitment to cooperate with each other to that end;     17. Also reaffirms the need for an international environment that is  conducive to the realization of the right to development;     18. Stresses the need to strive for greater acceptance, operationalization and  realization of the right to development at the international and national levels, and  calls upon States to institute the measures required for the implementation of the  right to development as a fundamental human right;     19. Emphasizes the critical importance of identifying and analysing obstacles  impeding the full realization of the right to development at both the national and the  international levels;     20. Affirms that, while globalization offers both opportunities and challenges,  the process of globalization remains deficient in achieving the objectives of  integrating all countries into a globalized world, and stresses the need for policies   A/RES/62/161  6  and measures at the national and global levels to respond to the challenges and  opportunities of globalization if this process is to be made fully inclusive and  equitable;     21. Recognizes that, despite continuous efforts on the part of the  international community, the gap between developed and developing countries  remains unacceptably wide, that developing countries continue to face difficulties in  participating in the globalization process and that many risk being marginalized and  effectively excluded from its benefits;     22. Underlines the fact that the international community is far from meeting  the target set in the United Nations Millennium Declaration5H4 of halving the number  of people living in poverty by 2015, reaffirms the commitment made to meet that  target, and emphasizes the principle of international cooperation, including  partnership and commitment, between developed and developing countries towards  achieving the goal;     23. Urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete  efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for  official development assistance to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.2 per cent of  their gross national product to least developed countries, and encourages developing  countries to build on the progress achieved in ensuring that official development  assistance is used effectively to help to meet development goals and targets;     24. Recognizes the need to address market access for developing countries,  including in agriculture, services and non-agricultural products, in particular those  of interest to developing countries;     25. Calls for the implementation of a desirable pace of meaningful trade  liberalization, including in areas under negotiation; implementation of commitments  on  implementation-related  issues  and  concerns;  review  of  special  and  differential-treatment provisions, with a view to strengthening them and making  them more precise, effective and operational; avoidance of new forms of  protectionism; and capacity-building and technical assistance for developing  countries as important issues in making progress towards the effective  implementation of the right to development;     26. Recognizes the important link between the international economic,  commercial and financial spheres and the realization of the right to development,  stresses, in this regard, the need for good governance and broadening the base of  decision-making at the international level on issues of development concern and the  need to fill organizational gaps, as well as strengthen the United Nations system and  other multilateral institutions, and also stresses the need to broaden and strengthen  the participation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition  in international economic decision-making and norm-setting;     27. Also recognizes that good governance and the rule of law at the national  level assist all States in the promotion and protection of human rights, including the  right to development, and agrees on the value of the ongoing efforts being made by  States to identify and strengthen good governance practices, including transparent,  responsible, accountable and participatory government, that are responsive and  appropriate to their needs and aspirations, including in the context of agreed  partnership approaches to development, capacity-building and technical assistance;     28. Further recognizes the important role and the rights of women and the  application of a gender perspective as a cross-cutting issue in the process of  realizing the right to development, and notes in particular the positive relationship   A/RES/62/161  7  between women’s education and their equal participation in the civil, cultural,  economic, political and social activities of the community and the promotion of the  right to development;     29. Stresses the need for the integration of the rights of children, girls and  boys alike, in all policies and programmes, and for ensuring the promotion and  protection of those rights, especially in areas relating to health, education and the  full development of their capacities;     30. Welcomes the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted at the High- level Meeting of the General Assembly on 2 June 2006, 1F12 stresses that further and  additional measures must be taken at the national and international levels to fight  HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, taking into account ongoing efforts  and programmes, and reiterates the need for international assistance in this regard;     31. Takes note with appreciation of the adoption of the Convention on the  Rights of Persons with Disabilities 12F 13 on 13 December 2006, and notes that the  Convention is open for signature;     32. Emphasizes its commitment to indigenous peoples in the process of  realization of the right to development, and stresses the commitment to ensure their  rights in the areas of education, employment, vocational training and retraining,  housing, sanitation, health and social security recognized in international human  rights obligations and highlighted in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights  of Indigenous Peoples as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 61/295  of 13 September 2007;    33. Recognizes the need for strong partnerships with civil society  organizations and the private sector in pursuit of poverty eradication and  development, as well as for corporate social responsibility;     34. Emphasizes the urgent need for taking concrete and effective measures to  prevent, combat and criminalize all forms of corruption at all levels, to prevent,  detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly  acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery  consistent with the principles of the United Nations Convention against  Corruption, 13F14 particularly chapter V thereof, stresses the importance of a genuine  political commitment on the part of all Governments through a firm legal  framework, and in this context urges States to sign and ratify as soon as possible,  and States parties to implement effectively, the Convention;     35. Also emphasizes the need to strengthen further the activities of the Office  of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the promotion and  realization of the right to development, including ensuring effective use of the  financial and human resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, and calls upon the  Secretary-General to provide the Office of the High Commissioner with the  necessary resources;     36. Reaffirms the request to the High Commissioner, in mainstreaming the  right to development, to undertake effectively activities aimed at strengthening the  global partnership for development between Member States, development agencies  _______________  12 Resolution 60/262, annex.  13 Resolution 61/106, annex I.  14 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2349, No. 42146.   A/RES/62/161  8  and the international development, financial and trade institutions, and to reflect  those activities in detail in her next report to the Human Rights Council;     37. Calls upon the United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as well  as the specialized agencies, to mainstream the right to development in their  operational programmes and objectives, and stresses the need for the international  financial and multilateral trading systems to mainstream the right to development in  their policies and objectives;     38. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the  attention of Member States, United Nations organs and bodies, specialized agencies,  funds and programmes, international development and financial institutions, in  particular the Bretton Woods institutions, and non-governmental organizations;     39. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General  Assembly at its sixty-third session and an interim report to the Human Rights  Council on the implementation of the present resolution, including efforts  undertaken at the national, regional and international levels in the promotion and  realization of the right to development, and invites the Chairperson of the Working  Group on the Right to Development to present a verbal update to the Assembly at its  sixty-third session.