UN human rights body adopts resolution on right to development

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution on the right to development, emphasizing an urgent need to make the right to development a reality for everyone.

The UN logo on a door at the Headquarters of the United Nations ahead of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, New York, USA, September 23, 2019. [Photo: IC/TASS/Valery Sharifulin]

The resolution, adopted on the last day of the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, stresses that the responsibility for managing worldwide economic and social issues and threats to international peace and security must be shared by the nations and should be exercised multilaterally.

The resolution welcomes the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its means of implementation, and emphasizes that the right to development provides a vital enabling environment for the full realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

It further recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is one of the critical elements in the promotion and realization of the right to development and is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to UN at Geneva, said before the adoption of the resolution that development is an important prerequisite for the realization and enjoyment of all human rights.

Lack of development is the biggest obstacle to a full enjoyment of human rights by people in many countries, especially developing countries, Chen said, adding that nations worldwide should promote common development to lay a solid foundation for the promotion and protection of human rights.