Belarus Speaks on the Right to Development
13.02.2020On 12 February 2020, the United Nations Office in Geneva hosted a meeting on the right to development. The meeting was organized by the Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement with an open invitation to all interested states, as well as civil society organizations. The purpose of the event was to discuss issues related to the practical implementation of the right to development, in particular, in view of the idea to develop an international convention on the right to development.
For reference: The right to development was enshrined in the United Nations General Assembly Declaration under the same title in 1986. In accordance with the Declaration, “the right to development is the inalienable right of every individual and all peoples to participate, contribute and enjoy the results of economic, social, cultural and political development”. However, this concept has been disputed by developed states, which do not support the idea of developing a separate convention on the right to protection either. Belarus has traditionally supported the right to development.
The event’s panel was represented by the Special Rapporteur of the HRC on the right to development, the chairman of the Working Group on the right to development, as well as by representatives of OHCHR and academia. Vadim Pisarevich, Deputy Permanent Representative of Belarus to Geneva, took part in interactive discussion that followed the presentations. In his remarks the Belarusian diplomat, in particular, noted that the right to development was important for all states, regardless of their level of development, since all countries faced specific development challenges. He also supported the idea to craft an international convention on the right to development.
