Countries that defend the UN Charter call for the viability of the right to development

Published at: 03/04/2025 06:49 PM

On behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, the representative of Venezuela, Ambassador Joaquín Pérez, spoke this Thursday during the 11th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, in New York, during which he is expected to address, among other issues, “the question of financing for development”.

“We respectfully urge to move beyond words, with concrete proposals aimed at involving countries of the developed world, towards the operationalization of the right to development, through the long-awaited adoption of a legally binding instrument on this issue, which would bring us closer to the effective realization of this universal and inalienable human right of our peoples,” he emphasized.

The body welcomed all global efforts aimed at raising awareness of the right to development. “The holding in the coming months of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and the Second World Summit for Social Development provides a privileged opportunity to make effective progress and ensure that the means to implement this human right are available to everyone, including in terms of funding, without exclusion of any kind,” he said.

In addition, the Group's spokesman said that they hope that all the advances achieved in theory will soon translate into the beginning, “hopefully this year, without further delay”, of an intergovernmental process of negotiations leading to the adoption of the International Covenant on the Right to Development.

He stated that the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of all human rights, both individual and collective, urging the international community to avoid double standards and politicization in the consideration of human rights.

Pérez denounced that, at present, however, the right to development is not only seriously threatened and continuously attacked, but its realization is systematically and deliberately curtailed by the illegal, indiscriminate and increasing application of unilateral coercive measures against entire nations, affecting more than a third of humanity.

In some cases, “these unilateral coercive measures have significantly contributed to atypical human mobility patterns, particularly in terms of migration.” In this context, he pointed out that guaranteeing the right to development of peoples implies ensuring decent treatment for migrants and that they are not subject to xenophobia or racial discrimination.

Palestinian cause

Ambassador Pérez, on behalf of the above-mentioned Group, reaffirmed the unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people, as well as the unequivocal condemnation of the massacre being perpetrated in the Gaza Strip, which has increased in recent weeks, following the resumption of hostilities by the occupying power (Israel), in violation of the ceasefire previously agreed upon by the parties and in serious violation of international law.

“We insist on our commitment to continue to redouble our efforts in support of the just cause of Palestine, including through active participation in international initiatives aimed at ending the illegal Israeli occupation and achieving the independence of the State of Palestine, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he stressed.

MPPRE