General comments by India on Consideration of the Resolution A/HRC/51/L.9 on “The Right to Development” at the 51st Session of Human Rights Council (12 September - 7 October 2022) delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva (6 October, 2022)
Mr. President,
The Right to Development remains extremely important for an overwhelming majority of the global population and is central to the realisation of all other human rights. Therefore, we must strive towards operationalization and realization of the right to development both at the national and international level.
- 2.Considering this, we believe that the current resolution would contribute to positively pushing forward the agenda of the right to development. The draft under consideration envisages further support of the Office of the High Commissioner, the Working Group on the Right to Development, and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development towards realization and implementation of this critically important human rights. India stands committed to work closely and constructively with various stakeholders.
- 3.India believes in constructive engagement with all stakeholders while pursuing realization of the right to development. We welcome the proposed high-level meeting to celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Declaration on the right to development, at its fifty-second session; and the extension of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development to allow further engagement. We extend our support to the early conclusion of the legally binding instrument on the right to development through a collaborative process of engagement.
- 4.We urge the OHCHR to give priority to the right to development as requested in the resolution. We support the resolution under consideration and request all member States to adopt it by consensus.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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