OHCHR | Special Rapporteur on the right to development

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Special Rapporteur on the right to development

Purpose of the mandate

More than 30 years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development, billions of people in all parts of the world have been left behind and are yet to see their right to development realised.

The 2015 Millennium Development Goals’ report indicated that 800 million people still lived in extreme poverty and suffered from hunger. In 2015, over 160 million children under age five still suffered the consequences of malnutrition. Almost fifty percent of global workers were still working in vulnerable conditions. Today, over 880 million people are estimated to be living in slum-like conditions in cities across the developing world.

About the mandate

The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 33/14 of 29 September 2016, established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development. Mr. Saad Alfarargi was appointed Special Rapporteur for a period of three years and took up his functions on 1 May 2017.

As part of his mandate, the Special Rapporteur contributes practical guidance for the effective realisation of the right to development at local, national, regional and international levels. He also participates in integrating human rights in development work as well as representing the right to development in the 2030 sustainable development agenda. Learn more about the history of the mandate.

Current mandate holder

Mr. Saad Alfarargi, Special Rapporteur for the right to Development Mr. Saad Alfarargi was appointed Special Rapporteur for the right to Development in 2017. Mr. Alfarargi has served as Ambassador, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the UN in Geneva, Specialised Agencies and other International Organisations in Switzerland. He has published articles on economic development, international order, peace and security, disarmament and world trade and is a regular commentator on national, regional and international affairs. Read Mr. Saad Alfaragi’s full biography.

Key documents

Special Rapporteur on the right to development - Climate Action and the Right to Development: a Participatory Approach (POLICY BRIEF)

This document examines the relationship between the right to development and climate change, notes the challenges that developing countries continue to face owing to limited participation, access to information, accountability and remedies, funding and technology and provides recommendations for furthering the right to development and for combating climate change.

PDF: English

Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development - An introduction to the mandate

This document provides an overview of the role of the Special Rapporteur for the right to development, the challenges involved and his plan for the mandate. It also gives a summary of the human rights aspect of development.

Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development - Guidelines and Recommendations on the Practical Implementation of the Right to Development

Latest thematic reports

Climate action from the perspective of the right to development – international level: In this thematic report, the Special Rapporteur examines climate action at international level from the perspective of the right to development. He notes the challenges that developing countries continue to face owing to limited participation, access to information, accountability and remedies, funding and technology. The Special Rapporteur notes several key issues associated with climate change and the right to development and provides recommendations for furthering the right to development and for combating climate change. View report page | View document A/76/154

Climate action from the perspective of the right to development – national level: In this thematic report, the Special Rapporteur examines climate action at national-level from the perspective of the right to development. He reviews a number of challenges that he identified in the process of consultations preceding its preparation and highlights good practices and reviews challenges in ensuring the meaningful participation of rights holders. He concludes with recommendations on integrating the right to development into climate action. View report page | View document A/HRC/48/56

Financing for development - international level: In this thematic report, the Special Rapporteur explores the international dimensions of financing for development policies and practices from the perspective of the right to development. He highlights four key areas. The first is participation, consent and access to information in the practices of multilateral development banks and development finance institutions. Key principles such as free, prior and informed consent and practices such as environmental impact assessments and meaningful consultation processes are assessed. The second key area is domestic and international resource mobilization, which includes such matters as illicit financial flows, official development assistance and public-private partnerships. The third area covered is international cooperation as a key principle in both financing for development and the right to development, with a focus on the intergovernmental dialogues on financing for development being held under the aegis of the United Nations, tax cooperation and financial lending. Fourth, international and multilateral responses to the global economic impacts of the unprecedented coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are surveyed. The Special Rapporteur concludes with recommendations on integrating principles of participation, free, prior and informed consent and access to information into development finance policies and practices, as well as tackling the challenges relating to domestic and international resource mobilization, public-private partnerships and financial assistance in the context of both responding to the global pandemic and implementing the 2030 Agenda. View document A/75/167

Financing for development - national level: In this thematic report, the Special Rapporteur examines national-level financing for development practices from the perspective of the right to development. He highlights good practices and reviews challenges in ensuring the meaningful participation of rights holders. He concludes with recommendations on integrating the right to development into the areas of resource mobilization, tax policies, participation and access to information. View report page | View document A/HRC/45/15