The right to development and the APG23 commitment to promote it at the United Nations

The APG23's office in Geneva these days has been committed to follow the work of the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development which was held in Geneva in room XVI of the United Nations Building.

From April 25 to May 3rd,  delegates from all UN member states discussed implementation of the Right to Development. APG23 and we were at the table with them also representing 11 other catholic inspired organizations that make up the Working Group on the Right to Development within the Catholic NGO forum in Geneva.

What is the Human Right to Development?

At this link you can find a nice video (prepared by the OHCHR's Right to Development session) that allows you to pick up some of the essential elements of this fundamental human right that was declared just thirty years ago by the UN General Assembly with the declaration No. 41/128 of 4 December 1986.

In 2016 occurs, in fact, the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development and some events were already organized to celebrate this anniversary. 

Especially during the last Human Rights Council, Dr. Maria Mercedes Rossi was invited to participate as a speaker at an event organized by the OHCHR's Right to Development session, entitled "In Search of Dignity and Sustainable Development for All".
Here you can find the program and the speech held during the event.

APG23 has always fought in Geneva and throughout the world (even with its NGO "Condivisione fra i popoli") because the right to development is fully respected, protected and realized and become reality, especially for the poor and marginalized who suffer daily injustices .

Even in front of the states delegates we tried to defend the Right to Development as an urgent necessity, not only for the most marginalized, but also for all humanity and for future generations.

The debate between the States seem to be less politicized than in the past; perhaps the unanimous adoption of the UN General Assembly in New York in 2030 Agenda for the development sostenibile6, with 17 goals, has created a greater consensus around the development. However, deep divisions remain between the richer and more developed countries and the poorer or developing.

Almost with dismay we have noted during the discussions in these days of criteria and sub-criteria to implement the Right to Development that there is still no agreement between states, that the vetoes continue and that only thanks to some of our proposals the States have found a meeting point. Certainly a success for us that we seek to build bridges of dialogue between States, but also proof of how the positions are still far apart.

Although the Working Group's conclusions were disappointing: the states have not been able to seize the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development to finalize the discussion on a consensus document that can really facilitate the Right to Development practical implementation. The bitterness for the lost opportunity motivates us even more to duplicate efforts because the Right to Development will soon become a reality for all, especially for the poorest and most marginalized.