Right to Development
Specific Instruments
  General Instruments
  Articles
  Websites
  Selected Case Law
  Case Law Websites
  Reports
  Books
  Periodicals
  Human Rigths Actors
The Declaration on the Right to Development states that "the right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized." However, this right is much disputed in international human rights law - the very existence of the right to development as a human right has been denied. This debate is one reason for the lack of a universal convention on the right to development: the UN's working groups have been unable to develop suitable language which would render this right justiciable. Further problems include identifying: a feasible duty-holder, procedures for the realization of the right, and even measures of satisfaction and redress. Attempts have been made to reformulate the right as the right to a process, or as a human rights approach to development.
     
Specific Instruments
Declaration on the Right to Development
Date of adoption: 10/5/1999 Entry into force: -
System of protection: Universal
     
General Instruments
Proclamation of Teheran
Date of adoption: 13/5/1968 Entry into force: -
System of protection: Universal
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action
Date of adoption: 25/6/1993 Entry into force: -
System of protection: Universal
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Banjul Charter)
Date of adoption: 27/6/1981 Entry into force: 21/10/1986
System of protection: Organization of African Unity
     
Articles
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Languages: English
Explains the relationship between human rights and development, and details the right to development. Links to documents, events, news, partners.
Languages: English
Resource guides on different development issues, most with human rights sub-themes - Good links - Development country profiles - News - Directory of websites, databases, library catalogues and email discussion lists.
Languages: English
Good links to documents, sites and organizations dealing with the right to development.
Languages: English French Spanish
Documents - Working groups and open-ended working groups - Independent expert - Note on the right to development.
Languages: English
A web directory of international instruments and actors on environment and development issues.
Languages: English
Excellent links to specialist resources on gender mainstreaming and equality. Online articles about different gender issues.
Languages: Arabic Chinese English French Japanese Russian Spanish
Information on the World Summit on Sustainable Development, including some rights-related materials.
     
Selected Case Law
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Case Law Websites
Council of Europe - Human Rights Web
Languages: English French
Search the case-law of the European Convention on Human Rights control bodies.
     
Reports
For the Record 2001: The United Nations Human Rights System
Human Rights Internet Date: 2001
Reference: Human Rights Internet, 2001
Source: Human Rights Internet
FTR is an electronic annual report that provides summaries of relevant human rights information generated within the UN system. An important reference tool for those active in national and international social justice movements, the report also aids in simplifying the human rights work of the UN for the uninitiated, members of national legislative assemblies, journalists, students, teachers and the general public. Produced with the support of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade since 1997, the report is organized thematically as well as by country and covers all relevant UN documentation over a full calendar year. These include: State reports prepared for the six human rights treaty bodies and the concluding observations of the experts who review those reports; documentation, resolutions and decisions by various UN system bodies.
     
Books
Les droits fondamentaux : universalité et diversité, droit au développement, démocratie et État de droit, commerces illicites : actes des 1ères Journées scientifiques du Réseau Droits fondamentaux de l'AUPELF-UREF tenues à Tunis du 9 au 12 octobre 1996
Jacques-Yvan Morin Ed.
Reference: Bruxelles, Universités francophones - Actualité scientifique, Bruylant, 1997
Languages: French
The right to development as an individual right – Universality of human rights and diversity of cultures (philosophical aspects of fundamental rights) – The state of law and democracy – Illicit trade and fundamental rights.
Peoples' Rights
Philip Alston Ed.
Reference: Oxford, Collected Courses of the Academy of European Law, Oxford University Press, 2001
Languages: English
"In this volume, a group of leading experts examines the current status of the various rights [the so-called 'third generation solidarity rights'] and reflects upon their likely significance in the twenty-first century".
     
Periodicals
Human Rights Tribune
Reference: Ottawa, Human Rights Internet
Contact: hri@hri.ca http://www.hri.ca/cftribune/
Languages: English
A tri-yearly publication of HRI (Human Rights Internet). Addresses all areas of human rights from a non-governmental perspective world-wide. Articles about important events - NGO reports - Analysis of the work of human rights organizations.
Yale Human Rights & Development Law Journal
Reference: New Haven, CT, Yale Law School
Contact: yhrdlj@yale.edu , tel. +1 (203) 432-9693 http://www.yale.edu/yhrdlj
Languages: English
Yale Hum. Rts. & Dev. L.J. is the only journal focused on human rights and development. It publishes Articles, Notes from the Field, and Student Notes that address issues in human rights, international development or both.
     
Human Rights Actors
CARE ()
http://www.care.org/ Type:Network
Network of development organisations.
Europe's Forum on International Cooperation (EUFORIC)
http://www.euforic.org Type:Network
Platform for debate and information on Europe's international cooperation.
European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development. (CONCORD)
http://www.concordeurope.org Type:Network
The main objective of the Confederation is to enhance the impact of European development NGOs vis-à-vis the European Institutions by combining expertise and representation.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/ Type:United Nations System
Mandate: to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural populations. Works against poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition, etc.
François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights (Harvard University) ()
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/fxbcenter/ Type:Research / Education
The first academic center to focus exclusively on health and human rights. Combines research and teaching with service and advocacy. Works internationally and nationally with health and human rights practitioners, governments, NGOs, academics,...
Human Rights Strengthening (HURIST)
http://www.unhchr.ch/development/hurist.html Type:United Nations System
Joint programme between the OHCHR and UNDP. Development of national capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights and in the application of a human rights approach to development programming.
Institute of Latin America (ELAS-RAS)
http://www.mtu-net.ru/ilaran/ Type:Research / Education
Russian institution within the Russian Academy of Sciences for the education and research on Latin America.
Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
http://www.iss.nl/ Type:Research / Education
An international centre of social science education and research. Post-graduate education in development studies for mid-career professionals - Relationship between human rights, social justice and development strategies - Economic and Social Change.
Nestlé Foundation ()
http://www.nestlefoundation.org/ Type:Other
Foundation created by Nestlé in 1966, supports research in human nutrition for developing countries.
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)
http://www.nupi.no Type:Research / Education
Education and research institute for international relations and peace and development studies.
OHCHR Independent expert of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to development ()
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/7/b/mdev.htm Type:United Nations System
Since 1998, Mr. Arjun K. Sengupta (India) is the Independent expert on the right to development. Several of his reports are available.
René Moawad Foundation (Center for Research and Education on Democracy -CRED-) (FRM)
http://www.rmf.org.lb/ Type:NGO (Non-Governmental Organization)
RMF tries to consolidate the foundations of a civil society that will promote national unity and sustainable peace through development projects. Objectives of CRED: research (constitutional and legal fields) and political education.
Special Rapporteur on the right to food ()
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/7/b/mfood.htm Type:United Nations System
Seeks, receives and responds to information on all aspects of the realization of the right to food - Establishes cooperation with Governments, intergovernmental organisations and NGOs - Identifies emerging issues related to the right to food.
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues ()
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/pfii Type:United Nations System
Advisory body to UN Economic and Social Council- Indigenous issues concerning economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights- Established in July 2000.
UNDP - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
http://www.undp.org/ Type:United Nations System
The UN's principal provider of development advice, advocacy and grant support. Six priority areas: Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction, Crisis Prevention/Recovery, Energy/Environment, Information/Communications Technology, HIV/AIDS.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
http://www.undp.org/ Type:United Nations System
The UN's global development network helps countries build and share solutions to the challenges of Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction, Crisis Prevention & Recovery, Energy and Environment, Information & Communications Technology, and HIV/AIDS.
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development (DSD)
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/ Type:United Nations System
Dedicated to improving the well being of present and future generations through the promotion of sustainable development - Provide leadership and expertise on the promotion of sustainable development...