Right to development, G.A. res. 48/130, 48 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 249, U.N. Doc. A/48/49 (1993).


The General Assembly,

Reaffirming the Declaration on the Right to Development, which it proclaimed at its forty-first session,

Recalling its resolutions 45/97 of 14 December 1990, 46/123 of 17 December 1991 and 47/123 of 18 December 1992, and those of the Commission on Human Rights relating to the right to development, and taking note of Commission resolution 1993/22 of 4 March 1993,

Recalling also the report on the Global Consultation on the Realization of the Right to Development as a Human Right,

Recalling further the principles proclaimed in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development of 14 June 1992,

Reiterating the importance of the right to development for all countries, in particular the developing countries,

Mindful that the Commission on Human Rights entered a new phase at its forty-ninth session in its consideration of this matter, which is directed towards the implementation and further enhancement of the right to development,

Reaffirming the need for an evaluation mechanism so as to ensure the promotion, encouragement and reinforcement of the principles contained in the Declaration on the Right to Development, and welcoming, in this regard, the decision of the Commission at its forty-ninth session to establish a working group on the right to development,

Noting that the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, examined the relationship between development and the enjoyment by everyone of economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights, recognizing the importance of creating the conditions whereby everyone may enjoy those rights as set out in the International Covenants on Human Rights,

Recalling that, in order to promote development, equal attention and urgent consideration should be given to the implementation, promotion and protection of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights,

Welcoming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, which reaffirms the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights and reaffirms that the human person is the central subject of development,

Having considered the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General prepared pursuant to resolution 47/123,

1. Reaffirms the importance of the right to development for all countries, in particular the developing countries;

2. Takes note with interest of the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General prepared in accordance with General Assembly resolution 47/123;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission on Human Rights at its fiftieth session concrete proposals on the effective implementation and promotion of the Declaration on the Right to Development, taking into account the views expressed on the issue at the forty-ninth session of the Commission as well as any further comments and recommendations that may be submitted pursuant to paragraph 10 of Commission resolution 1993/22;

4. Notes with appreciation the convening of the first meeting of the Working Group on the Right to Development from 8 to 19 November 1993 at Geneva;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue coordination of the various activities with regard to the implementation of the Declaration;

6. Urges all relevant bodies of the United Nations system, particularly the specialized agencies, when planning their programmes of activities, to take due account of the Declaration and to make efforts to enhance their cooperation in its application;

7. Urges the regional commissions and regional intergovernmental organizations to convene meetings of governmental experts and representatives of non-governmental and grass-roots organizations for the purpose of seeking agreements for the implementation of the Declaration through international cooperation;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to inform the Commission on Human Rights at its fiftieth session and the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session of the activities of the organizations, programmes and agencies of the United Nations system for the implementation of the Declaration;

9. Calls upon the Commission on Human Rights to continue to make proposals to the General Assembly, through the Economic and Social Council, on the future course of action on the question, in particular on practical measures for the implementation and enhancement of the Declaration, taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the Global Consultation on the Realization of the Right to Development as a Human Right and the report of the Working Group on the Right to Development;

10. Takes note with satisfaction of the results of the World Conference on Human Rights, including its reaffirmation that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated and that democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing;

11. Decides to consider this question at its forty-ninth session under the sub-item entitled Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993