PERMANENT MISSION OF INDIA TO THE UN, GENEVA

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

26TH SESSION (10-27 June  2014)

Agenda Item 8: General Debate

24 June 2014

Statement by India

Mr. President,

1. As reaffirmed in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the Right to Development is a universal and inalienable right; as well an integral part of fundamental human rights.  We believe that Development is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, aiming at the constant improvement of the well-being of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom. Development policy must recognize that the human person is the central object of the development process and should therefore make the human being the main participant and beneficiary of development.

2.The international community should promote effective international cooperation for the realization of the Right to Development and the elimination of obstacles to its enjoyment.  While no one can deny the national responsibility of States to promote the Right to Development, one cannot, equally, place an over-emphasis on national responsibilities, in disregard of the imperative of international cooperation, essential for the purpose of creating a supporting and conducive environment for the genuine realization of the Right to Development.  Lasting progress towards the implementation of the Right to Development requires effective development policies at the national level, as well as equitable economic relations and a favourable economic environment at the international level.

3.A coordinated international effort is required to ensure that States establish, promote and sustain national and international arrangements that create an enabling environment for the realization of the Right to Development.  Further, it is vital that the Right to Development is mainstreamed in a determined fashion into the policies and operational activities of relevant actors at the national, regional and international levels, including multilateral financial, trade and development institutions.

4.In the UN Millennium Declaration, the Heads of State and Government had reaffirmed their commitment to make the Right to Development a reality for everyone and to free the entire human race from want.  As we set the stage for the post-2015 Development Agenda, the international community must use the opportunity to reiterate its commitment and to make a global coordinated effort to effectively translate the Right to Development into a reality for all.

Thank you, Mr. President.    

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