Artificial intelligence, biodiversity and trade among themes to be discussed at 10th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development

GENEVA (24 October 2024) – The United Nations’ Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development is set to discuss wide-ranging themes including artificial intelligence, biodiversity and trade at its 10th session from 28 to 30 October 2024 in Room XXI, Palais des Nations, Geneva, with meetings that will be webcast live.

At this session, the Expert Mechanism will hold a general debate with Member States and other relevant stakeholders. It will also hold a brief coordination meeting with counterpart UN mechanisms on the right to development and discuss two thematic studies: on the Individual and Collective Dimensions of the Right to Development; and on the Right to Development in International Development Cooperation.

In addition, the Expert Mechanism will hold six focused thematic dialogues on:

• Business and the right to development (Monday 28 October 15:00 – 16:30)
• Engaging the Unengaged: Building Inclusive Development through a meaningful civil society participation (Tuesday 29 October 10:30 – 12:30)
• Artificial intelligence, cultural rights and right to development (Tuesday 29 October 15:00 – 16:30)
• Trade, biodiversity and the right to development: an equation to be constructed (Tuesday 29 October 16:30 – 18:00)
• Bilateral, regional and multilateral trade: friends or enemies of the right to development? (Wednesday 30 October 10:00 – 12:00)
• The future of international cooperation (Wednesday 30 October 15:00 – 16:30)

More information on the session and documents can be found here.

• Location: Geneva, Palais de Nations, Room XXI. All participants are requested to register here.
• Interpretation: All open meetings during the three-day session will be provided with interpretation in the six UN official languages.
• Time and date: Monday, 28 October to Wednesday, 30 October 2024, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00 (Central European Time).

The Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development is a subsidiary body of the Human Rights Council composed of five independent experts. It provides thematic expertise on the right to development by searching for, identifying and sharing best practices with Member States and promoting the implementation of the right to development worldwide. It holds two annual sessions in New York and Geneva.