Annual thematic reports

Year

Title

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In the present report, submitted to pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 33/14 and 51/7, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Surya Deva, outlines his vision for reinvigorating the right to development, highlights achievements in realizing this right over the years, identifies major current challenges for its full implementation and proposes strategies to overcome those challenges. The report also includes the Special Rapporteur’s goals and thematic priorities and describes his methods of work to discharge his mandate and engage all relevant stakeholders in an inclusive manner.

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In his thematic report the Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Surya Deva, articulates a holistic vision of the right to development and examines the role of business in realizing this right. The present report provides a road map to harness the positive contribution of business and minimize the adverse impacts of business activities on the right to development. By analysing selected international standards, he provides illustrative examples of how businesses could contribute to realizing all four facets of the right to development (economic, social, cultural and political development) and the enabling role that States and civil society organizations should play in this regard. The Special Rapporteur also calls for a fundamental shift in how businesses operate in society by reorienting the purpose of business, changing irresponsible business models and going beyond the “do no harm” approach. Only by making these transformative changes will businesses be able to make a meaningful contribution to inclusive, equitable and sustainable development

A/78/160

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In his thematic report the Special Rapporteur on the right to development examines the response to and recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic from the perspective of the right to development at the global level, highlights good practices and reviews challenges in ensuring equality among countries. The Special Rapporteur concludes the report with recommendations on integrating the right to development into such response and recovery plans and policies.

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In his thematic report the Special Rapporteur on the right to development examines response to and recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic from the perspective of the right to development at the national level, highlights good practices and reviews challenges in ensuring the meaningful participation of rights holders. The Special Rapporteur concludes the report with recommendations on integrating the right to development into such plans.

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In the report, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development examines the relationship between the right to development and climate change. He notes the challenges that developing countries continue to face owing to limited participation, access to information, accountability and remedies, funding and technology.

The Special Rapporteur finds that there must be a just transition away from a carbon-based economy and towards one that is based on sustainable development, the protection of human rights and the principle that no one is left behind. The Special Rapporteur finds that fostering diversified, “green” economies with climate-resilient, sustainable development will not only bolster the right to development and adaptation in developing countries, but will also improve global equity, allowing developing countries to become stronger partners in mitigating climate change.

The Special Rapporteur notes several key issues associated with climate change and the right to development and provides recommendations for furthering the right to development and for combating climate change.

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In the report the Special Rapporteur on the right to development examines climate action at the national level from the perspective of the right to development, highlights good practices and reviews challenges in ensuring the meaningful participation of rights-holders. The Special Rapporteur concludes his report with recommendations on integrating the right to development into climate action.

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In this thematic report, the Special Rapporteur explores the international dimensions of financing for development policies and practices from the perspective of the right to development. He highlights four key areas. The first is participation, consent and access to information in the practices of multilateral development banks and development finance institutions. Key principles such as free, prior and informed consent and practices such as environmental impact assessments and meaningful consultation processes are assessed. The second key area is domestic and international resource mobilization, which includes such matters as illicit financial flows, official development assistance and public-private partnerships. The third area covered is international cooperation as a key principle in both financing for development and the right to development, with a focus on the intergovernmental dialogues on financing for development being held under the aegis of the United Nations, tax cooperation and financial lending. Fourth, international and multilateral responses to the global economic impacts of the unprecedented coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are surveyed. The Special Rapporteur concludes with recommendations on integrating principles of participation, free, prior and informed consent and access to information into development finance policies and practices, as well as tackling the challenges relating to domestic and international resource mobilization, public-private partnerships and financial assistance in the context of both responding to the global pandemic and implementing the 2030 Agenda.

In this thematic report, the Special Rapporteur examines national-level financing for development practices from the perspective of the right to development. He highlights good practices and reviews challenges in ensuring the meaningful participation of rights holders. He concludes with recommendations on integrating the right to development into the areas of resource mobilization, tax policies, participation and access to information.

In this thematic report, the Special Rapporteur explores the explicit link between the right to development and disaster risk reduction and its practical implications. The report concludes with key recommendations aimed at improving the participatory processes related to the planning, monitoring and implementation of disaster risk reduction measures and policies.

In this report, the Special Rapporteur presents guidelines and recommendations on the practical implementation of the right to development arising from the regional consultations on that topic held in 2018 and 2019. The report also contains a summary of the activities carried out by the Special Rapporteur since September 2018.

The report explores the connection between the right to development and equality, the consequences of inequalities within countries on the enjoyment of the right to development and provides recommendations on contributing to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right to development in the context of the implementation of the equality related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In this report, the Special Rapporteur explores the link between South-South cooperation, sustainable development and the right to development. He highlights concrete examples of good practices in advancing inclusive sustainable development and human rights through South-South cooperation. The report concludes with recommendations to leverage the full potential of South-South cooperation.

In this report, drafted in the short period after entering into office, the Special Rapporteur outlines his preliminary views concerning the background and context of the mandate, highlights certain challenges for its implementation and presents an outline of the preliminary strategy that will inform his work under the mandate. The report also includes the Special Rapporteur’s approach to engagement with stakeholders, and methods of work.

Given the brief period since his appointment and the timing of the reporting cycle, the Special Rapporteur intends for his report to the Human Rights Council to be a submission also to the General Assembly. The Secretariat therefore has the honour to refer the Assembly to that report.