Consultations on the Convention on the Right to Development

The Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Intergovernmental Working Group on the right to development have published a call for comments on the second revised version of the draft convention on the right to development. All UN member and observer states, specialized agencies, and other intergovernmental organizations with observer status, national human rights institutions with “A status,” and non-governmental organizations with UN Economic and Social Council consultative status are invited to submit comments until May 12, 2023. The draft convention on the right to development promises to have a significant impact on sustainable development. Specifically with regard to investment governance, the draft text recognizes that investment agreements shall not nullify or impair the exercise of the right to development. With regard to developing countries, the draft convention calls on states to encourage official development assistance, codifies the principle of special and differential treatment, and recognizes common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities in matters of trade, investment, and finance.