EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogue on the Right to Development

Mr. Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. 

We thank the speakers for their presentations. We fully agree on the importance of the mutually reinforcing nexus between peace, human rights, development, gender equality and the environment outlined in the Special Rapporteur’s report.

We underline our longstanding commitment to the right to development, which, as an integral part of the universal human rights framework, must be realised in full consistency with the universality, indivisibility, interrelation, interdependence, and mutually reinforcing nature of all human rights, ensuring that civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights are advanced with equal urgency. Its realisation requires placing human beings at the centre, and ensure their active, free and meaningful participation.

We are also fully committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda, which is our collective roadmap in this regard, and the “Seville Commitment”, which we are working to translate into concrete action, in particular by improving access to financing for development.

Working to realise the right to development, the EU and its Member States are dedicated to eradicating poverty in all its dimensions, tackling discrimination and inequalities, and ensuring that no one is left behind, both within and beyond the European Union. This remains at the centre of the EU’s international partnerships, as evidenced by the fact that the EU and its Member States are the world’s leading provider of official development assistance, accounting for almost half of all global ODA last year.

The EU is working alongside partner countries in developing resilient economies aligned with the SDGs and through its Global Gateway strategy promotes investment in infrastructure, green energy, health, transport, trade, education and research for sustainable development around the world. We are committed to ensuring that these projects uphold international human rights norms and standards on the ground.

In the context of growing challenges to the rules-based international order, it is of utmost importance that approaches to realising the right to development are grounded in international human rights law and reflect the diversity of views expressed by UN Member States. This must also apply to any future negotiation process on a potential legally binding instrument, as any such instrument cannot be effective without broad support. We consider that the existing human rights treaties, mechanisms and bodies provide a solid foundation to address the interlinkages between the right to development and other human rights.

The EU will continue to constructively engage with all partners to effectively realise the right the development.

Mr. Special Rapporteur, in line with the Seville Commitment, how can we most effectively close the SDG financing gap through innovative approaches mobilising public and private resources, while ensuring development effectiveness and leaving no one behind?

Thank you.