The Declaration on the Right to Development of 1986 (hereinafter “DRTD”) is an ambitious document of programmatic character containing a blend of principles informed by international human rights instruments, and an aspirational political statement. It introduced into the United Nations human rights agenda the right of every human being to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from economic, social, cultural and political development. The significance of the right to development lies in the fact that it embodies a comprehensive approach to the realisation of human rights by according attention to structures, processes and outcomes of development both at the national and international levels.

The DRTD establishes equity, equality and justice as primary determinants of development, thereby heralding a new rights-based approach to development. It laid the foundation to advance the United Nations agenda designed to integrate development into human rights. It has been a catalyst for the recognition of the right to development in a number of subsequent regional and international instruments dealing with human rights and sustainable development. However, the content, nature and the status of the DRTD and the right to development itself are contested by scholars and States, and the intergovernmental process aiming to reach a political consensus on its meaning and practical interpretation is highly politicised. Divisions about the legal status and implications of the right to development prevail between—and within—the North and the South. It is in this context that this Introductory Note seeks to analyse the origins, content and the status of the DRTD and its impact on the evolution of the right to development. 

The DRTD was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly by its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986. The gestation period of the DRTD was a long one. It has its origins in the Charter of the United Nations, the human rights agenda of the United Nations, the right to self-determination, the principle of non-interference, permanent sovereignty of States over their natural resources and wealth, and the campaign for a New International Economic Order of the 1970s and early 1980s.

Although the concept of development is largely a product of economic and political events of the post-World War II period, the aim of the international community to reduce poverty and promote welfare has its roots in the League of Nations. The Covenant of the League of Nations addressed development within its mandate system in Article 22. This concept of development found its expression in Article 55 of the Charter of the United Nations in a wider context of international economic and social cooperation among States. Article 55 recognizes the importance of promoting “conditions of economic progress and development” and “solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems” and all Members of the United Nations pledged themselves through Article 56 “to take joint and separate action” in cooperation with the United Nations “for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55”. Thus, the embryonic foundations for the DRTD were laid in the Charter of the United Nations itself in 1945.

The momentum to articulate and promote the right to development of States gathered pace within the United Nations in the 1950s and 1960s in the context of both the right of self-determination and the developmental needs of States without outside interference. Resolutions 1710 and 1715 (XVI), adopted by the General Assembly in the early 1960s, proclaimed the first United Nations Development Decade. The 1962 United Nations General Assembly resolution 1803 (XVII) on Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources required sovereignty to be exercised in the interest of a State’s “national development and of the well-being of the people of the State”. The human rights dimension of development was included in the 1966 report of the Secretary-General on the progress of the first Development Decade, 1960s.

The link between development and human rights was officially recognised by the Tehran Conference on Human Rights in 1968. In its resolution 2027(XX), the General Assembly strengthened that link when it recognized the need for the framework of the Development Decade to “devote special attention on both the national and international levels to progress in the field of human rights, and to encourage the adoption of measures designed to accelerate the promotion of respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. The resolution invited governments to include in their plans for economic and social development measures directed towards the achievement of further progress in the implementation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent international human rights instruments.

Another major prelude to the DRTD was article 2(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Along the lines envisaged in Articles 55 and 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Covenant absorbed “development”, qualifying it as an important means for the achievement of human rights. It was a recognition of the idea that development measures can serve as a framework within which economic and social rights can be defined and realized.

Building on the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the 1966 Covenant, and inspired by the regional and international initiatives, the General Assembly recognized the right to development in its resolution 34/46 of 23 November 1979 under the title “Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improvising the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. A concerted momentum towards the adoption of the DRTD commenced in 1975 when the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the predecessor of the current Human Rights Council, decided to place on its agenda the “Question of the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems relating to human rights in developing countries” (E/CN.4/1179). While the matter concerning different dimensions of development were being debated within the United Nations, a Senegalese jurist, Keba M’baye, first proposed the idea of a right to development (“Le droit au développement comme un droit de l’homme” in Revue des droits de l’homme, vol. 5, 1972, p. 505), and it was first given legal recognition in the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (“Banjul Charter”).

The developments that ensued these initiatives on this matter both at the regional and international levels led ultimately to the adoption of the DRTD. The thirty-seventh session of the Commission held in 1981 established a Working Group (resolution 36 (XXXVII)) to study the scope and contents of the right to development. Upon receiving the report of the Working Group (E/CN.4/1985/66), the Commission transmitted it together with other relevant documents to the General Assembly in 1985, through the Economic and Social Council (resolution 1985/43), paving the way for the adoption of the DRTD on the right to development. When the report was received, the Third Committee of the General Assembly considered several proposed amendments to the text in 1986 and completed its consideration of the draft declaration, which was then submitted to the General Assembly for adoption and was adopted with the support of an overwhelming majority of States. A total of 146 States voted for the resolution with only one State against and 8 abstentions (against: the United States of America; abstaining: Denmark, Finland, the Federal Republic of Germany, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

As stated in the Preamble to the DRTD, it draws on the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the 1996 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The DRTD provides that there should be full respect for the principles of international law concerning friendly relations and cooperation in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, and there is a duty on the part of all Members of the United Nations to create international conditions favourable to the realisation of the right to development, to co-operate to eliminate “obstacles” to development and to take steps to formulate international development policies with a view to facilitating the right to development.

The DRTD provides a comprehensive framework and approach to the policies and programmes of all relevant actors at the global, regional, sub-regional and national levels to realise the right to development. It integrates aspects of both human rights and development theory and practice and requires active, free and meaningful participation of the people in the process of development. It embodies the human rights principles of equality, non-discrimination, participation, transparency, accountability as well as international cooperation in an integrated manner. It reaffirms the principles of self-determination and full sovereignty over natural wealth and resources and involves both national and international dimensions of State responsibilities including responsibilities in the creation of an enabling environment for development and favourable conditions for all human rights. The idea behind the right to development is the adoption of a comprehensive and human-centred development policy, participatory development processes, social justice and equity.

The content of the DRTD is framed along the following main themes: (1) comprehensive approach to development whereby development is not defined solely in terms of economic growth, but as a “comprehensive” and multi-faceted “process” with social, cultural, political as well as economic elements; (2) respect for all human rights and affirmation that human rights are indivisible and interdependent, and equal attention should be given to economic, social and cultural rights along with civil and political rights; (3) participation in the formulation of development policies as the human person is at the centre of development; (4) social justice for all, since the development process should be about promoting social justice, including the “fair distribution of the benefits” of development for individuals and “equality of opportunity for all” for access to basic resources and services, as well as the eradication of all social injustices; (5) international co-operation, since the realisation of the right to development requires not only appropriate national policies, but also suitable international conditions for development with appropriate international policies and co-operation; (6) respect for the right to self-determination, as the DRTD establishes that development “implies the full realisation of the right of peoples to self-determination”. The notion of self-determination in this context means that, as a minimum, minorities must enjoy the right to participate in the design and implementation of a sustainable development policies.

Since the subjects and beneficiaries of the right to development are individuals under the DRTD, they are the bearers of rights, who can make claims against the State for the promotion, protection, and fulfilment of the obligations or duties contained in the right and owed by the duty-holder. As the DRTD promotes “people-centered development”, it makes individuals holders of the right to development. Although the State is not explicitly mentioned as the subject of the right to development, the DRTD can be interpreted as introducing the notion that States are also right-holders, for example, that they have the right to formulate appropriate national development policies, since the DRTD also refers to “peoples” as right-bearers. Human rights law claims are generally held against States under international human rights law. Under the DRTD, however, States can impose human rights claims against other States and also possibly against the international community. Nonetheless, read in totality, the DRTD establishes the State as the primary duty-holder, while the individual does have duties, too, in the realisation of the right to development. States have a duty of co-operation, both individually and as members of the international community, to formulate international development policies.

The DRTD contains 10 articles. Article 1 (1) proclaims that the right to development is an inalienable human right in the following words: “1. The right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized.” This definition encompasses within it the right to development as both an individual and collective right of peoples. Article 1 (2) establishes the nexus between the right to development and the principle of self-determination as well as the sovereignty of States over all their natural wealth and resources.

The DRTD identifies in article 2 the human being as the central subject of development and attributes States the right and the duty to formulate appropriate national development policies that aim at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals. The remaining provisions of the DRTD identify the responsibilities and duties of States with regard to the realisation of the right to development.

Article 3 declares that, “States have the primary responsibility for the creation of national and international conditions favourable to the realization of the right to development.” According to a high-level United Nations task force on the implementation of the right to development, “the responsibility for the creation of this enabling environment encompasses three main levels: (a) States acting collectively in global and regional partnerships; (b) States acting individually as they adopt and implement policies that affect persons not strictly within their jurisdiction; and (c) States acting individually as they formulate national development policies and programmes. (A/HRC/15/WG.2/TF/2/Add.2). Echoing the provisions in Article 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, article 4 of the DRTD provides that “1. States have the duty to take steps, individually and collectively, to formulate international development policies with a view to facilitating the full realization of the right to development.”

While article 5 outlines the historical background to the violations of human rights resulting from apartheid, all forms of racism and racial discrimination, colonialism, foreign domination and occupation, aggression, foreign interference and threats against national sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity, threats of war and refusal to recognize the fundamental right of peoples to self-determination, article 6 reaffirms the need to promote, encourage and strengthen universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without any distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, emphasises the indivisible and interdependent character of all fundamental freedoms and calls for equal attention to the implementation, promotion and protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Article 7 speaks of the need to promote the establishment, maintenance and strengthening of international peace and security and general and complete disarmament under effective international control to ensure the enjoyment of human rights in general and the right to development in particular. Article 8 calls upon States to undertake, at the national level, all necessary measures for the realization of the right to development and to ensure, inter alia, equality of opportunity for all in their access to basic resources, education, health services, food, housing, employment and the fair distribution of income. Similar to the manner in which article 6 places emphasis on treating all fundamental freedoms as indivisible and interdependent, article 9 provides that all the aspects of the right to development set forth in the DRTD are indivisible and interdependent and each of them should be considered in the context of the whole.

Article 10 calls for “steps to ensure the full exercise and progressive enhancement of the right through the formulation, adoption and implementation of policy, legislative and other measures”. However, the DRTD does not prescribe any specific course of action by which “conditions conducive to the fulfilment of human person” are created and leaves it to the United Nations and its Member States to work out the processes and modalities required to create “conditions conducive to the fulfilment of human person”.

The DRTD has had an impact on the subsequent international development agenda. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development reiterated and elevated the status of the right to development by including it in its article 3: “The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations”. Unlike the DRTD, the Rio Declaration was adopted with the support of an overwhelming majority of States. Although the United States expressed, in a separate statement, its opposition to development as a right, the normative character of the provisions in article 3 of the Rio Declaration and the support it received has strengthened the status of the right to development.

The right to development was recognized by the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights (A/CONF.157/23). Many provisions of the Millennium Declaration (General Assembly resolution 55/2 of 8 September 2000) were inspired by the DRTD. It can be argued that the agenda of the multilateral cooperation set by the Millennium Declaration by uniting the key themes and challenges of the new millennium, such as development, poverty eradication, and human rights, democracy, and good governance was a continuum of the agenda set by the DRTD. The Millennium Declaration states that “we are committed to making the right to development a reality for everyone and to freeing the entire human race from want”.  

Another instrument that carries the spirit of the DRTD is the Sustainable Development Goals (General Assembly resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015). A series of other international commitments have reasserted the right to development including the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (General Assembly resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Through these instruments, States have given a new momentum for the protection, promotion and fulfilment of the right to development at national and international levels. The significance of the DRTD lies partly on the fact that many national and international agencies and especially the United Nations agencies have relied upon the right to development as a legal framework for integrating human rights in the development process.

Although the right to development has met the procedural requirements to become a new internationally recognised human right, the DRTD itself does not represent a legally binding instrument. However, thanks to the impact of the efforts leading up to the adoption of the DRTD and of its subsequent developments, the right to development has found its expression in a number of regional and international instruments, including article 23 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, articles 1 and 2 of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Principle 3 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, section III (article 11) of the United Nations Millennium Declaration, Sustainable Development Goals, Monterrey Consensus (Report of the Secretary-General, “Outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development” (A/57/344, 23 August 2002)), article 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and article 37 of the Arab Charter on Human Rights, the Human Rights Declaration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations of 2012, and the Abu Dhabi Declaration of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation of 2016. The right to development has also found its recognition in jurisprudence and examples are: Centre for Minority Rights Development (Kenya) and Minority Rights Group International on behalf of Endorois Welfare Council v. Kenya, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 2010, and Bakweri Land Claims Committee v. Cameroon, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 2002.

The DRTD provides a framework for the adoption of measures to ensure that the development process is respectful of human rights and of the process in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be realized. Read together, the provisions in articles 1 and 6 of the DRTD can be regarded as stipulating a legal requirement according to which the development process would be regulated by human rights norms. Accordingly, development interventions by national and international agencies would have to follow the priorities set by human rights. The right to development has had some degree of legal and practical implications to the issue of human rights and development. The DRTD has been instrumental in integrating economic, social and cultural rights into the workings of international agencies and specially the United Nations agencies.

The DRTD provides additional normative support for integrating the human development approach into mainstream development initiatives. It also has had a measure of influence on the negotiations for the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which have integrated provisions on international assistance and cooperation with a focus on the needs of developing countries. The right to development is an aspirational and enabling right. It is a right to means of achieving other human rights.

The DRTD firmly places the right to development within the legal framework of international human rights and links the realization of this right to international cooperation in the realms of economic development and social justice. The concept of the right to development carries with it a moral and political force in the deliberations on economic development of developing countries and delivery of promises made through various international initiatives, ranging from financing for development and poverty reduction to projects of social engineering envisaged in the Charter of the United Nations.

The challenge ahead is to translate the provisions of the DRTD into concrete obligations. Another challenge is to conceptualise the right to development legally, since the DRTD does not unequivocally specify obligations flowing from the right to development. Since the term “development” is a multidimensional and shifting concept sensitive to time and place, it is an unsettled, or a relative idea, depending on the context to which it applies. In a wider sense of the term, every country is developing in different ways and in different areas of human activity. As stated in preambular paragraph 2 of the DRTD, development is a continual process anywhere and everywhere: “development is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom”.

Overall, the term “development” in the context of the DRTD has largely been understood to mean “social and economic development” of developing countries in general and of the least-developed countries in particular. Therefore, the right to development is mainly about the economic and social development of developing countries, as stated in article 4 (2) of the DRTD.

The aim of the DRTD is to integrate the right to development into human rights. It provides a set of normative prescriptions to be reflected in development policies and practices as it seeks to ensure that development policies and practices do not interfere with the enjoyment of human rights. The aim is to revisit certain fundamental questions in light of new directions developed in legal thinking to better understand the relationship between development and human rights. Since the DRTD itself does not prescribe any specific course of action by which the right to development has to be realised, leaving it to the United Nations and its Member States to work out the processes and modalities required for it, the Human Rights Council, in its resolution 33/14 of 29 September 2016, established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development, who is expected to contribute practical guidance for the effective realisation of the right to development at local, national, regional and international levels.

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur is to explore ways and means of implementing the commitments of States under article 8 of the DRTD to “undertake, at the national level, all necessary measures for the realization of the right to development and shall ensure, inter alia, equality of opportunity for all in their access to basic resources, education, health services, food, housing, employment and the fair distribution of income. Effective measures should be undertaken to ensure that women have an active role in the development process. Appropriate economic and social reforms should be carried out with a view to eradicating all social injustices” and to “encourage popular participation in all spheres as an important factor in development and in the full realization of all human rights.” Accordingly, the Special Rapporteur proposed a set of guidelines and recommendations on the practical implementation of the right to development in a report submitted to the Human Rights Council, which places particular attention on meaningful participation in setting development priorities and enjoying development benefits, methods of mobilizing resources for development that are inclusive and sustainable, monitoring and evaluation of development policies, and measures for accountability when rights are infringed (A/HRC/42/38).

Going forward, there have been several proposals made to negotiate and conclude a framework convention on the right to development, to concretise the provisions of the DRTD which accommodates the various interests of both the developed and developing countries. The United Nations Working Group on the Right to Development was tasked to assist Member States in drafting a new treaty declaring development as a human right. In January 2020, the Human Rights Council published a draft Convention on the Right to Development (A/HRC/WG.2/21/2/Add.1). This draft Convention is based on existing international legal instruments as much as possible and builds upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the nine core United Nations human rights treaty, and of course on the DRTD. If this draft Convention receives the support required within the Council, and subsequently within the United Nations General Assembly, a treaty on the right to development stands to join the group of United Nations human rights treaties. Thus, there is a prospect of the DRTD becoming a catalyst that transforms the right to development from a soft-law principle into a hard-law principle, thereby becoming a historical declaration.

---

The concept of development was included in Article 55 of the Charter of the United Nations, which calls on the United Nations to promote, inter alia, “higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development”. Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that everyone, as a member of society, is entitled to realization “of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality”. Article 1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966, provides, inter alia, that “[all] peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development”.

In 1968, during its twenty-fourth session, the Commission on Human Rights took up the question of economic and social rights under the agenda item entitled “Study of the Question of the Realization of the Economic and Social Rights Contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (E/CN.4/972). The Commission on Human Rights considered the topic in each of the years from 1969 to 1974 (E/CN.4/1007, E/CN.4/1039, E/CN.4/1068, E/CN.4/1097, E/CN.4/1127 and E/CN.4/1154). On 10 February 1975, at its thirty-first session, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 2 (XXXI), by which it decided to place on its agenda, as a standing item with high priority, the “Question of the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Eights and in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and study of special problems relating to human rights in developing countries” (E/CN.4/1179). At its thirty-second session, held in 1976, the Commission held discussions under the aforementioned standing item (E/CN.4/1213).

In 1977, at the Commission’s thirty-third session, during discussions under the abovementioned standing item, several speakers indicated that the existence of a specific right to development could be deduced from the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and other United Nations instruments (E/CN.4/1257). At the same session, the Commission adopted resolution 4 (XXXIII) of 21 February 1977. In paragraph 4 of the resolution, the Commission recommended, inter alia, that the Economic and Social Council invite the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the other competent specialized agencies, to undertake a study on the subject of “The international dimensions of the right to development as a human right in relation with other human rights based on international co-operation, including the right to peace, taking account the requirements of the New International Economic Order and the fundamental human needs”, and to make this study available for consideration by the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-fifth session (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the thirty-third session, E/CN.4/1257). The Economic and Social Council endorsed this recommendation in its decision 229 (LXII) of 13 May 1977. In paragraph 5 of resolution 4 (XXXIII), the Commission also requested the Secretary-General “to bring the present resolution to the attention of the competent economic organs in the United Nations and to ask for their views and comments in order to transmit them to the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-forth session”.

At its thirty-fourth session, held in 1978, the Commission on Human Rights continued its consideration of the item. It had before it, inter alia, a note by the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1272) containing the views and comments of the economic organs of the United Nations submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of Commission resolution 4 (XXXIII) (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the thirty-fourth session, E/CN.4/1292).

At its thirty-fifth session, held in 1979, the Commission on Human Rights further continued its consideration of the item. It had before it the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1334) and a report submitted by UNESCO (E/CN.4/1340), both prepared in accordance with Economic and Social Council decision 229 (LXII) of 13 May 1977 (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the thirty-fifth session, E/CN.4/1347). On 2 March 1979, the Commission adopted resolution 4 (XXXV) in which it recommended, inter alia, that the Economic and Social Council should invite the Secretary-General, in co-operation with UNESCO and other competent specialized agencies, to follow up the report (E/CN.4/1334) undertaken in pursuance of paragraph 4 of Commission resolution 4 (XXXIII) with a study of the regional and national dimensions of the right to development as a human right, paying particular attention to the obstacles encountered by developing countries in their efforts to secure the enjoyment of this right, and should make this study available for consideration by the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-seventh session (E/CN.4/1347). On the same day, the Commission adopted resolution 5 (XXXV) in which it, inter alia, reiterated “that the right to development is a human right and that equality of opportunity for development is as much a prerogative of nations as of individuals within nations”.

On 10 May 1979, the Economic and Social Council adopted decision 1979/30 by which it decided to request the Secretary-General to organize in 1980, within the framework of the advisory services program, a seminar on the effects of the existing unjust international economic order on the economies of the developing countries, and the obstacle that this represents for the implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly the right to enjoy an adequate standard of living proclaimed in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

At its thirty-fourth session, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of its Third Committee (A/34/704), adopted resolution 34/46 of 23 November 1979, in which it, inter alia, “[n]oted with interest Economic and Social Council decisions 1979/29 and 1979/30 of 10 May 1979, and Commission on Human Rights resolutions 4 (XXXV) and 5 (XXXV) of 2 March 1979, in which the Commission reiterated that the right to development is a human right and that equality of opportunity for development is as much a prerogative of nations as of individuals within nations”.

On 21 February 1980, at its thirty-sixth session, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 6 (XXVI) wherein it, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to arrange for the seminar requested in Economic and Social Council decision 1979/30 to be held between the end of June and early July 1980, with priority accorded on its programme to “the effects of the existing unjust international economic order on the economies of the developing countries and the obstacle that this represents for the implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms”, “the right to development as a human right”, “equality of opportunity to achieve it” and “the right to development as a right of individuals and nations” (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the thirty-sixth session, E/CN.4/1408). On the same day, the Commission adopted resolution 7 (XXVI) wherein it requested the Secretary-General, in the study he was invited to undertake pursuant to paragraph 6 of Commission resolution 4 (XXV) of 2 March 1979 and Economic and Social Council decision 1979/29 of 10 May 1979, to elaborate, with due regard to previous studies, in particular document E/CN.4/1334 (Report of the Secretary-General), on the conditions required for the effective enjoyment by all peoples and all individuals of the right to development, paying special attention to the effects on development of, inter alia, the recognition of the duty to achieve and strengthen solidarity and the establishment of peace and development of friendly relations among nations (E/CN.4/1408).

At its thirty-fifth session, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of its Third Committee (A/35/721), adopted resolution 35/174 of 15 December 1980, in which it requested the Commission on Human Rights, inter alia, to take the necessary measures to promote the right to development as a human right, which is as much a prerogative of nations as of individuals within nations, and to take action for its realization. In addition, the General Assembly requested that priority should be given to the holding in 1981 of a United Nations seminar on the relations existing between human rights, peace and development.

At its thirty-seventh session, held in 1981, the Commission on Human Rights had before it, inter alia, the following documents: a study on the regional and national dimensions of the right to development as a human right, paying particular attention to the obstacles encountered by developing countries in their efforts to secure the enjoyment of this right, prepared by the Secretary-General, in pursuance of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 4 (XXXV) of 2 May 1979 and 7 (XXXVI), of 21 February 1980, and Economic and Social Council decision 1979/29 of 10 May 1979 (E/CN.4/1421); a summary of replies of United Nations economic organs prepared by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 8 of resolution 4 (XXXV) (E/CN.4/1425); the report of the seminar on the effects of the existing unjust international economic order on the economies of the developing countries, and the obstacle that this represents for the implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms particularly the right to enjoy adequate standards of living as proclaimed in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (ST/HR/SER.A/8); and, the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1458) prepared in accordance with paragraph 6 of General Assembly resolution 35/174 which requested the Secretary-General to give priority, through the programme of advisory services in the field of human rights, to the holding in 1981 of a seminar on relations that exist between human rights and development (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the thirty-seventh session, E/CN.4/1475).

Also on its thirty-seventh session, the Commission adopted resolution 36 (XXXVII), in which it decided to establish, inter alia, a working group of 15 governmental experts appointed by the Chairman of the Commission, taking into account the need for equitable geographic distribution, to study the scope and contents of the right to development and the most effective means to ensure the realization, in all countries, of the economic, social and cultural rights enshrined in various international instruments, paying particular attention to the obstacles encountered by developing countries in their efforts to secure the enjoyment of human rights (E/CN.4/1475). It requested the working group, inter alia, to take into account especially the observations of Governments and specialized organizations on this subject, including the opinions expressed in the debate on this item, the report (E/CN.4/1334) and the study (E/CN.4/1421) prepared by the Secretary-General, the conclusions and recommendations of the seminar on the effects of the existing unjust international economic order on the economies of the developing countries held in Geneva in 1980 (ST/HR/SER.A/8), as well as, inter alia, the results of the seminar to be held in 1981 in New York on relations that exist between human rights, peace and development (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the thirty-seventh session, E/CN.4/1475). The Commission further requested that the group submit to the Commission at its thirty-eighth session a report based on the above-mentioned work with concrete proposals for implementation of the right to development and for a draft international instrument on this subject.

At its thirty-sixth session, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of its Third Committee (A/36/731), adopted resolution 36/133 of 14 December 1981, in which it, inter alia, welcomed the decision of the Commission on Human Rights to set up a working group to study the scope and contents of the right to development and the most effective means to ensure the realization, in all countries, of the economic, social and cultural rights enshrined in various international instruments, and emphasized that the right to development is an inalienable human right. In addition, the General Assembly requested the Commission on Human Rights to take the necessary measures to promote the right to development taking into account the work of the Working Group under resolution 36 (XXXVII) of the Commission.

The Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development held its first session from 20 to 24 July 1981, the second from 23 November to 4 December 1981 and the third from 18 to 22 January 1982 (Report of the first, second, and third sessions of the Working Group, E/CN.4/1489). The experts considered various possibilities regarding the type of instrument which might be proposed on the subject of the right of development. The experts as a whole finally agreed on the preparation of a declaration.

At its thirty-eighth session, held in 1982, the Commission on Human Rights had before it, inter alia, a document containing parts II and III of the study by the Secretary-General on the regional and national dimensions of the right to development (E/CN.4/1488), and the report to the Commission of the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/1489). On 9 March 1982, the Commission adopted resolution 1982/17 in which it decided, inter alia, to reconvene the Working Group of Governmental Experts with the same mandate in order to allow it to elaborate, on the basis of its report and all documents already submitted or to be submitted, a draft declaration on the right to development (E/CN.4/1982/30).

The Working Group of Governmental Experts held its fourth and fifth sessions from 28 June to 9 July and from 22 November to 3 December 1982, respectively (Report of the fourth and fifth sessions of the Working Group, E/CN.4/1983/11). At is fourth session the Working Group considered proposals for the preamble of the draft declaration on the right of development. At its fifth session, the Working Group continued to consider proposals for the draft preamble and also started to examine proposals for the operative paragraphs. Having been unable to complete all aspects of its mandate at its fourth and fifth sessions, the Working Group considered it desirable that work on the draft declaration should continue on the basis of all documents already submitted or to be submitted.

At its thirty-seventh session, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of its Third Committee (A/37/693), adopted resolution 37/199 of 18 December 1982, in which it requested, inter alia, the Commission on Human Rights to take the necessary measures to promote the right to development taking into account the results achieved by the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development, and welcomed the decision of the Commission, in resolution 1982/17 of 9 March 1982, that the Working Group should continue its work with the aim of presenting as soon as possible a draft resolution on the right to development.

At its thirty-ninth session, held in 1983, the Commission on Human Rights had before it, inter alia, the report of the Working Group of Governmental Experts (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the thirty-ninth session, E/CN.4/1983/60). On 22 February 1983, the Commission adopted resolution 1983/15 in which it decided, inter alia, to reconvene the Working Group of Governmental Experts with the same mandate in order to allow it to elaborate, on the basis of its report and all the documents already submitted or to be submitted, a draft declaration on the right to development.

At its thirty-eighth session, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of its Third Committee (A/38/690), adopted resolution 38/124 of 16 December 1983, in which it requested, inter alia, the Commission on Human Rights to take the necessary measures to promote the right to development, taking into account the results achieved by the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development, which is engaged in the study of the scope and content of the right to development.

The Working Group of Governmental Experts held its sixth and seventh sessions from 13 to 24 June and from 31 October to 11 November 1984, respectively (Report of the sixth and seventh sessions of the Working Group, E/CN.4/1984/13).  During these sessions, the Working Group continued its work on the drafting of a declaration but was not able to complete all aspects of the mandate within the time available.

At it is fortieth session, held in 1984, the Commission on Human Rights had before it, inter alia, the report of the Working Group of Governmental Experts (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the fortieth session, E/CN.4/1984/77). On 6 March 1984, the Commission adopted resolution 1984/16 in which it decided, inter alia, to reconvene the Working Group with the same mandate (E/CN.4/1984/77).

At its thirty-ninth session, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of its Third Committee (A/39/711), adopted resolution 39/145 of 14 December 1984, in which it requested, inter alia, the Commission on Human Rights to take the necessary measures to promote the right to development, taking into account the results achieved by the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development, and welcomed the decision of the Commission in its resolution 1984/16 that the Working Group should continue its work with the aim of submitting as soon as possible a draft declaration on the right to development.

The Working Group of Governmental Experts held its eighth and ninth sessions from 24 September to 5 October and from 3 to 14 December 1984, respectively (Report of the eighth and ninth sessions of the Working Group, E/CN.4/1985/11). At the eighth session, the Working Group considered in detail paragraphs 6, 9, 12 and 15 of the preamble to the draft declaration. At the ninth session, the Working Group resumed its detailed consideration of paragraphs 6, 9, 12 and 15 of the preamble to the draft declaration. In addition, it considered paragraph 16 of the preamble, and articles 1 to 4. However, the Group was unable to fulfill all the terms of its mandate within the time at its disposal. At its meeting on 14 December 1985, the Working Group adopted its report for transmittal to the Commission on Human Rights at its forty-first session. Annexed to the transmitted report were all the documents, drafts, and proposals submitted to the Working Group at its sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth sessions.

At its forty-first session, held in 1985, the Commission on Human Rights had before it, inter alia, the report of the Working Group of Governmental Experts (Commission on Human Rights, Report of the forty-first session, E/CN.4/1985/66). On 14 March 1985, the Commission adopted resolution 1985/43 by which it decided, inter alia, to transmit to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, the report of the Working Group, the part of the report of the Commission on Human Rights dealing with the question of the right to development, the summary records of the Commission’s discussion on the question during its forty-first session and any other relevant documents, so as to enable the Assembly to adopt a declaration on the right to development. In addition, the Commission decided to convene the Working Group for three weeks in January 1986 to study the measures necessary to promote the right to development. On 30 May 1985, the Economic and Social Council adopted decision 1985/149 by which it approved the Commission’s resolution 1985/43.

At its fortieth session, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of its Third Committee (A/40/970), adopted decision 40/425 of 13 December 1985, in which it decided, inter alia, to transmit to its forty-first session the draft resolution on the right to development, as well as all relevant documents, with a view to continuing the consideration of this question at that session. On the same day, the General Assembly adopted, also on the recommendation of the Third Committee, resolution 40/124, in which it requested, inter alia, the Commission on Human Rights to take the necessary measures to promote the right to development, and welcomed the decision of the Commission, in its resolution 1985/43, concerning the future work of the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development.

On 10 March 1986, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 1986/16 in which it, inter alia, welcomed the consideration given by the General Assembly at its fortieth session to the question of the adoption of a declaration on the right to development, and strongly urged the General Assembly to give the highest priority to the consideration of the draft declaration on the right to development with a view to the adoption of the declaration at the forty-first session of the Assembly (E/CN.4/1986/65).

In 1986, during the forty-first session of the General Assembly, the Third Committee once again took up the draft declaration, and considered several proposed amendments (Report of the Third Committee, A/41/925). The Third Committee completed its consideration of the draft declaration at the same session. On 4 December 1986, the General Assembly adopted, on the recommendation of its Third Committee, the final text of the Declaration as an annex to resolution 41/128 (Declaration on the Right to Development).

General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 981 and 983 to 985 of the twenty-fourth session, held, respectively, from 4 to 6 March 1968 (E/CN.4/SR.981 and 983-985)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Twenty-fourth session, 5 February to 12 March 1968 (E/CN.4/972)

Final Act of the International Conference on Human Rights, Teheran, 22 April to 13 May 1968 (A/CONF.32/41)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Twenty-five session, 17 February to 21 March 1969 (E/CN.4/1007)

General Assembly resolution 2542 (XXIV) of 11 December 1969 (Declaration on social progress and development)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Twenty-sixth session, 24 February to 27 March 1970 (E/CN.4/1039)

General Assembly resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970 (Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Twenty-seventh session, 22 February to 26 March 1971 (E/CN.4/1068)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Twenty-eighth session, 6 March to 7 April 1972 (E/CN.4/1097)

Note by the Secretary-General, Question of the Realization of the Economic, Social, and cultural rights (E/CN.4/1109, 22 January 1973)

The widening gap: a study of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, by Manouchehr Ganji, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights – Preface and Introduction (E/CN.4/1108, 5 February 1973)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Twenty-Ninth session, 26 February to 6 April 1973 (E/CN.4/1127)

The widening gap: a study of the realization of economic, social and cultural rights – Revised observations, conclusions and recommendations (E/CN.4/1131, 18 January 1974)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirtieth session, 4 February to 8 March 1974 (E/CN.4/1154)

General Assembly resolution 3201 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974 (Declaration on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order)

General Assembly resolution 3202 (S-VI) of 1 May 1974 (Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order)

General Assembly resolution 3281 (XXIX) of 12 December 1974 (Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 1297 to 1299 of the thirty-first session, held, respectively, on 7 and 10 February 1975 (E/CN.4/SR.1297-1299)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-first session, 3 February to 7 March 1975 (E/CN.4/1179)

General Assembly resolution 3362 (S-VII) of 16 September 1975 (Development and international economic co-operation)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-second session, 2 February to 5 March 1976 (E/CN.4/1213)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 1389, 1391 to 1394, 1396 and 1397 of the thirty-third session, held, respectively, on 14, from 16 to 18 and on 21 February 1977 (E/CN.4/SR.1389, 1391-1394, 1396 and 1397)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-third session, 7 February to 11 March 1977 (E/CN.4/1257)

Economic and Social Council decision 229 (LXII) of 13 May 1977

Note by the Secretary-General, Views and comments of the economic organs of the United Nations submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of Commission resolution 4 (XXXIII) (E/CN.4/1272, 22 December 1977)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-fourth session, 6 February to March 1978 (E/CN.4/1292)

General Assembly resolution S-10/2 of 30 June 1978 (Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly)

The international dimensions of the right to development as a human right in relation with other human rights based on international co-operation, including the right to peace, taking into account the requirements of the new international economic order and the fundamental human needs: Report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1334, 2 January 1979)

Report submitted by UNESCO in connection with paragraph 4 of resolution 4 (XXXIII) of the Commission on Human Rights: Note by the Secretary General (E/CN.4/1340, 9 February 1979)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 1483, 1486, 1488, 1489, 1490, 1492 of the thirty-fifth session, held, respectively, on 16 and from 19 to 22 February 1979 (E/CN.4/SR.1483, E/CN.4/SR.1486, E/CN.4/SR.1488, E/CN.4/SR.1489, E/CN.4/SR.1490 and E/CN.4/SR.1492)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-fifth session, 12 February to 16 March 1979 (E/CN.4/1347)

Economic and Social Council decision 1979/29 of 10 May 1979

Economic and Social Council decision 1979/30 of 10 May 1979

Final Declaration of the 6th Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries (A/34/542, 11 October 1979)

Report of the Third Committee to the General Assembly (A/34/704, 21 November 1979)

General Assembly resolution 34/46 of 23 November 1979 (Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-sixth session, 4 February to 14 March 1980 (E/CN.4/1408)

Seminar on the Effects of the Existing Unjust International Economic Order on the Economies of the Developing Countries and the Obstacle that this Represents for the Implementation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, 30 June to 11 July 1980 (ST/HR/SER.A/8)

The regional and national dimensions of the right to development as a human right, Introduction and Part I: Study by the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1421, 13 November 1980)

Third Committee of the General Assembly, Summary records of meetings Nos. 66 and 71 of the thirty-fifth regular session, held, respectively, on 24 and 26 November 1980 (A/C.3/35/SR.66 and 71)

Report by the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1425, 1 December 1980)

General Assembly resolution 35/56 of 5 December 1980 (International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade)

Report of the Third Committee to the General Assembly (A/35/721, 10 December 1980)

General Assembly resolution 35/174 of 15 December 1980 (Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms)

Seminar on relations that exist between human rights, peace and development: Report by the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1458, 5 February 1981)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 1612 to 1614 of the thirty-seventh session, held, respectively, on 23 and 24 February 1981 (E/CN.4/SR.1612, E/CN.4/SR.1613, E/CN.4/SR.1614)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-seventh session, 2 February to 13 March 1981 (E/CN.4/1475)

ICJ/ICLD Statement on Right to Development, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.4, 20 July 1981)

Working paper submitted by Cuba: Draft declaration on the right to development, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.5, 20-24 July 1981)

Seminar on the Relations that Exist between Human Rights, Peace and Development, 3 to 14 August 1981 (ST/HR/SER.A/10)

The National Dimensions of the Right to Development: Certain views and experiences of the SFR of Yugoslavia, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.11, 10 November 1981)

Working paper prepared by the Secretary-General: Some United Nations instruments which appear to be of particular relevance to the activities of the Working Group (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.9, 16 November 1981)

General United States approach: Contribution by Professor Peter L. Berger, United States expert, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.13, 26 November 1981)

Working paper on topics (b) and (c) adopted by the Working Group: Presented by Julio Heredia, expert from Cuba, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.14, 27 November 1981)

Working paper submitted by Senegal: Some points regarding the right of development, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.15, 27 November 1981)

Certain elements for the report on the right to development as a human right: Working paper by P.J.I.M. de Waart (Netherlands), Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.18, 3 December 1981)

Report of the Third Committee to the General Assembly (A/36/731, 3 December 1981)

Working paper presented by Peru: Observations concerning an integral concept of the right to development, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.8, 23 November-4 December 1981)

Certain elements for the report on the right to development as a human right: Working paper presented by V. Khamanev (USSR), Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.19, 4 December 1981)

General Assembly resolution 36/133 of 14 December 1981 (Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms)

Working paper submitted by Panama: Draft proposal for adoption or insertion in the final declaration of the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.21, 31 December 1981)

Working paper submitted by Panama: Draft paragraph for inclusion in the final document (Declaration on the right to development) (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.22, 31 December 1981)

The regional and national dimensions of the right to development as a human right, Parts II, III and Concluding Observations: Study by the Secretary-General (E/CN.4/1488, 31 December 1981)

Some underlying ideas of the conceptual framework of the right to development: Working Paper by Henryk J. Sokalski (Poland), Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.34/WP.25, 18 January 1982)

Report of the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development covering its 1st, 2nd, and 3rd sessions (E/CN.4/1489, 11 February 1982)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 30-33 and 55 of the thirty-eighth regular session, held, respectively, from 22 to 23 February, and on 9 March 1982 (E/CN.4/1982/SR.30, E/CN.4/1982/SR.31, E/CN.4/1982/SR.32, E/CN.4/1982/SR.33 and E/CN.4/1982/SR.55)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-eighth session, 1 February to 12 March 1982 (E/CN.4/1982/30)

Draft declaration on the right to development: Preamble proposals prepared by Netherlands, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/4, 2 July 1982)

Some proposals for insertion in the preamble to the draft declaration: Working paper submitted by Iraq (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/6, 2 July 1982)

Draft preamble of the declaration on the right to development: Unofficial draft submitted by Danilo Turk (Yugoslavia), Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/7, 6 July 1982)

Material for the preamble to the draft declaration, Working paper submitted to the Drafting Committee informally by the Rapporteur (France), Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/8, 6 July 1982)

Draft preamble: Some important ideas for inclusion in the preamble submitted informally by Senegal, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/10, 6 July 1982)

Proposals by the USSR representative to the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development on the right to development with regard to the preamble of the draft declaration on the right to development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/5, 13 August 1982)

Draft declaration on the right to development (operative part): Working paper submitted by Professor P.J.I.M. de Waart (Netherlands), Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/14, 9 November 1982)

Observations on the format of and status of work on a draft declaration on the right to development: Working paper by Henryk J. Sokalski (Poland), Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/15, 22 November 1982)

Proposal for preambular paragraph 12 of draft declaration on the right to development: Working paper presented by Professor P. Berger (United States of America), Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/16, 22 November 1982)

Third Committee of the General Assembly, Summary records of meetings Nos. 38 and 59 to 61 of the thirty-seventh regular session, held, respectively, on 10 November, and 1 and 2 December 1982 (A/C.3/37/SR.38 and 59, 60 and 61)

Draft declaration on the right to development: Working paper submitted by Algeria, Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development (E/CN.4/AC.39/1982/26, 2 December 1982)

Report of the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development covering its 4th and 5th sessions (E/CN.4/1983/11, 9 December 1982)

Report of the Third Committee to the General Assembly (A/37/693, 9 December 1982)

General Assembly resolution 37/199 of 18 December 1982 (Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 17, 18, 20 and 31 of the thirty-ninth session, held, respectively, on 11, 14 and 22 February 1983 (E/CN.4/1983/SR.17, E/CN.4/1983/SR.18, E/CN.4/1983/SR.20 and E/CN.4/1983/SR.31)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Thirty-ninth session, 31 January to 11 March 1983 (E/CN.4/1983/60)

Final documents of the 7th Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries (A/38/132, 8 April 1983)

Third Committee of the General Assembly, Summary records of meetings Nos. 39, 40, 54 and 56-59 of the thirty-eighth regular session, held, respectively, on 9 and 10, and from 28 to 30 November, and on 1 December 1983 (A/C.3/38/SR.39, 40, 54, 56, 57, 58 and 59)

Report of the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development covering its 6th and 7th sessions (E/CN.4/1984/13, Corr.1 and Corr.2, 14 November 1983)

Report of the Third Committee to the General Assembly (A/38/690, 13 December 1983)

General Assembly resolution 38/124 of 16 December 1983 (Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 16 to 18 and 42 of the fortieth session, held, respectively, on 16 and 17 February, and 6 March 1984 (E/CN.4/1984/SR.16, E/CN.4/1984/SR.17, E/CN.4/1984/SR.18 and E/CN.4/1984/SR.42)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Fortieth session, 6 February to 16 March 1984 (E/CN.4/1984/77)

Third Committee of the General Assembly, Summary records of meetings Nos. 34 and 53 of the thirty-ninth regular session, held, respectively, on 8 and 28 November 1984 (A/C.3/39/SR.34 and 53)

Report of the Third Committee to the General Assembly (A/39/711, 5 December 1984)

General Assembly resolution 39/145 of 14 December 1984 (Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms)

Report of the Working Group of Governmental Experts on the Right to Development covering its 8th and 9th sessions (E/CN.4/1985/11, 24 January 1985)

Commission on Human Rights, Summary records of meetings Nos. 44 and 56 of the forty-first session, held, respectively, on 6 and 14 March 1985 (E/CN.4/1985/SR.44 and E/CN.4/1985/SR.56)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Forty-first session, 4 February to 15 March 1985 (E/CN.4/1985/66)

Economic and Social Council decision 1985/149 of 30 May 1985

Third Committee of the General Assembly, Summary records of meetings Nos. 35, 36, 56 and 57 of the fortieth regular session, held, respectively, on 8, 27 and 29 November 1985 (A/C.3/40/SR.35, 36, 56 and 57)

Report of the Third Committee to the General Assembly (A/40/970, 5 December 1985)

General Assembly resolution 40/124 of 13 December 1985 (Alternative approaches and ways and means within the United Nations system for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms)

General Assembly decision 40/425 of 13 December 1985 (Draft declaration on the right to development)

Commission on Human Rights, Report of the Forty-second session, 3 February to 14 March 1986 (E/CN.4/1986/65)

Third Committee of the General Assembly, Summary records of meetings Nos. 36 to 37, and 61 of the forty-first regular session, held on 5, 6 and 28 November 1986, respectively (A/C.3/41/SR.36, A/C.3/41/SR.37, A/C.3/41/SR.61)

Report of the Third Committee to the General Assembly (A/41/925, 1 December 1986)

General Assembly, Verbatim record of the 97th plenary meeting of the forty-first regular session, held on 4 December 1986 (A/41/PV.97)

General Assembly resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986 (Declaration on the Right to Development)