Let me use this opportunity to thank the South-South Human Rights Forum for inviting me again to this year’s discussions. I must state that the 2019 one was very enriching and a significant opportunity for many to learn from. I am sure that lessons learnt from the last forum have to a very large extent shaped our thinking on what we could all do

 

to make the enjoyment of human rights a catalyst to human development and a reality in our respective countries. My presentation focuses on ‘Global Development Initiative and the Realization of the Right to Development.’

 

 

The right to development is a fundamental human right recognized by the United Nations General Assembly. However, despite the international community's commitment to realizing this right, many people around the world continue to suffer from poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment. In recent years, global development initiatives have emerged as a promising approach to addressing these challenges. This paper examines the role of Global Development Initiatives in realizing the right to development. Specifically, it analyzes the potential of these initiatives to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote social justice. The paper also considers the challenges faced by global development initiatives and provides recommendations for achieving their goals.

 

 

The right to development is a complex and multifaceted concept that has been the subject of much debate and discussion in international law and policy circles. At its core, the right to development is about ensuring that all individuals have access to the resources and opportunities necessary to live a dignified life. This includes access to education, healthcare, and basic necessities such as food and shelter. Despite the international community's commitment to realizing this right, many people around the world continue to suffer from poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment.

 

In recent years, global development initiatives have emerged as a promising approach to addressing these challenges. These initiatives bring together governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote social justice. This paper examines the role of global development initiatives in realizing the right to development. Specifically, it also analyzes the potential of these initiatives to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote social justice. The paper also considers the challenges facing global development initiatives and provides recommendations for achieving their goals.

 

 

Global development initiatives have the potential to play a critical role in realizing the enjoyment of the right to development. These initiatives can help to promote economic growth by providing resources and support to developing countries. They can also help to reduce poverty by targeting resources to the most vulnerable individuals and communities. Finally, global development initiatives can promote social justice by addressing the root causes of inequality and discrimination.

 

One example of a successful global development initiative is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2000. The MDGs targeted eight key areas, including but not limited to poverty reduction, education, and healthcare, and set specific targets for achieving progress in these areas by 2015. While progress towards achieving the MDGs was uneven, the initiative helped to catalyze global action on poverty reduction, and many countries saw significant improvements in areas such as child mortality and access to clean water.

 

Another example of a global development initiative is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The SDGs built on the MDGs and include 17 goals and 169 targets aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet, and promoting prosperity for all. The SDGs represent a more comprehensive and ambitious approach to global development, and their success will depend on the ability of governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to achieve their goals.

 

 

While global development initiatives have the potential to make significant progress towards realizing the right to development, they also face a number of challenges. One major challenge is the lack of resources and funding available for these initiatives. Many developing countries are still struggling to meet basic needs such as food and healthcare, and there is a significant gap between the resources needed to achieve the SDGs and the availability of resources. 

 

Another challenge facing global development initiatives is the issue of governance and corruption. Many developing countries struggle with weak governance structures and high levels of corruption, which to a very large extent continues to undermine efforts to promote economic growth and reduce poverty. It is essential for global development initiatives to work closely with local governments and civil society groups to address these issues and promote transparency and accountability.

 

A third challenge facing global development initiatives is the issue of inequality and exclusion. Many marginalized communities, including women, disable persons, indigenous peoples, and ethnic and religious minorities, continue to face discrimination and exclusion, which can limit their access to resources and opportunities. Global development initiatives must prioritize the needs of these communities and work to address the root causes of inequality and discrimination.

 

Finally, global development initiatives must also be responsive to the unique challenges facing different regions and countries. One-size-fits-all approaches are unlikely to be effective in addressing the diverse and complex challenges facing developing countries. It is essential for global development initiatives to work closely with local stakeholders to develop context-specific solutions that are tailored to the needs of each country and community.

 

 

To address these challenges and achieve the goals of global development initiatives, several recommendations can be made:

 

1. Increase funding and resources: There is a significant gap between the resources needed to achieve the SDGs and the resources available at different country levels. Donor countries and international organizations must increase their funding commitments to support global development initiatives.

 

2. Address governance and corruption: Weak governance structures and high levels of corruption can undermine efforts to promote economic growth and reduce poverty. Global development initiatives must work closely with local governments and civil society groups to promote transparency and accountability and address these issues.

 

3. Prioritize the needs of marginalized communities: Many marginalized communities continue to face discrimination and exclusion, limiting their access to resources and opportunities. Global development initiatives must prioritize the needs of these communities and work to address the root causes of inequality and discrimination.

 

4. Develop context-specific solutions: One-size-fits-all approaches are unlikely to be effective in addressing the diverse and complex challenges facing developing countries. Global development initiatives must work closely with local stakeholders to develop context-specific solutions that are tailored to the needs of each country and community.

 

Conclusion:

 

Global development initiatives have the potential to make significant progress towards realizing the right to development. These initiatives can help to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote social justice. However, they also face a number of challenges, including the lack of resources and funding, governance and corruption issues, inequality and exclusion, and the need for context-specific solutions. To achieve the goals of global development initiatives, it is essential for stakeholders to work together to address these challenges and promote sustainable and inclusive development.

 

 

1. United Nations General Assembly. [1986]. Declaration on the right to developmenT.

 

2. United Nations Development Programme. [2018] Beyond income, beyond averages, averages, beyond today; inequalities in human development in the 21st century.

 

 3. United Nations [2020]. Sustainable Development Goals.

 

4. World Bank [2019]. World Development Report 2019; The changing Nature of work.

 

5. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Report [2019]. Trade and Development Report 2019: Financing a Global Green New Deal.

 

6. United Nations Development Programme.

 

[2020] COVID-19 and Human Development Assessing the crisis, Envisioning the recovery.

 

7. International Labour Organization. [2020]. ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work.

 

8.United Nations Development Programme. [2019] Multidimensional Poverty index.

 

9.United Nations Environment Programme. [2019]. Global Environment outlook 6: Healthy Planet, Healthy people.

 

These resources provide information on the right to development, global development initiatives, sustainable development goals, poverty, and the impact of COVI-19 on development. 

 

（Patricia Narsu Ndanema is Chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone）