Mr. Chair,

At the outset, India would like to congratulate you on your re-election as Chair-Rapporteur for this Session of the Working Group on the Right to Development.

Mr. Chair,

2. We have a rich programme of work for the next five days and look forward to constructive progress on the agenda of Right to Development in this Session of the Working Group. India would also like to first place on record its appreciation of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development for his efforts in furthering the agenda of the right to development.

3. Right to Development, remains extremely important for an overwhelming majority of the global population. Regrettably, even after more than 30 years of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, and after 19 sessions of the Working Group on the subject, the right to development still remains a distant reality.

Mr. Chair,

4. The Right to Development can provide a balanced, comprehensive and enabling framework to strengthen the global partnership to achieve the SDGs in a sustainable manner while promoting all human rights for all. We do agree that the process of development needs to be nationally owned and driven by national needs and priorities. However, what it needs to be complemented by is equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level. This also calls for enhanced International Cooperation on Tax matters. Tax revenue remains the most important element of domestic resource mobilization which is a core essence to the achievement of the Right to Development. This requires robust international cooperation to address illicit cross-border financial flows, tax evasion, trade mis-invoicing and money transfer without money movement.

5. It is high time that we recognise the Right to Development as a primary enabling right that provides a normative basis for the realisation of all other rights.

Mr. Chair,

6. HRC Resolution 39/9 was a significant step forward on the dialogue on Right to Development and has mandated this Session of the Working Group to commence discussions to elaborate a draft legally binding instrument on the right to development. We look forward to the discussions on the proposed draft LBI in this Session.

Mr. Chair,

7. India is of the firm view that there is a lack of understanding and efforts on the part of certain sections of the global community on the true essence of the right to development. We would like to reiterate that right to development is not a request for charity but a well-founded desire for an international order that does not hamper the process of development. 

Mr. Chair,

8. India reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of the Right to Development and has contributed USD 25000 exclusively to support the activities of the SR on the Right to Development. We look forward to engaging in constructive and forward looking discussions in this session of the Working Group.

Thank You.