OHCHR | The Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development

The Intergovernmental Open-ended Working Group on the Right to Development

About the mandate

The Working Group was established by the Commission on Human Rights, in its resolution 1998/72, and by the Economic and Social Council, in its decision E/DEC/1998/269, to:

monitor and review progress on promoting and implementing the right to development;
review information submitted by States, United Nations agencies, and other organisations on the relationship between their activities and the right to development;
present the Commission on Human Rights with a sessional report on its deliberations, including advice to OHCHR regarding the implementation of the right to development; and
suggest possible programmes of technical assistance at the request of interested countries with the aim of promoting the implementation of the right to development.

The mandate was most recently renewed in General Assembly resolution A/RES/74/152. Read more about the mandate.

About the Working Group

The Working Group meets once a year in Geneva and submits its report to both the Council and the General Assembly. United Nations agencies, other international organisations, as well as civil society representatives may participate as observers in its sessions, which are chaired by the annually elected Chair-Rapporteur.

Current Chair-Rapporteur

Ambassador Akram Chair-Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council Working Group on the Right to Development In 2015, Ambassador Akram was elected Chair-Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council Working Group on the Right to Development. As Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva from 2008 to 2015, Zamir Akram has played a leading role in areas such as Disarmament, Human Rights, Refugees, Humanitarian Affairs, Trade and Development, Intellectual Property, Labour and Health, among others. Read more about Ambassador Akram and the role of the Chair-Rapporteur.

Latest reports

Report of the Working Group on the Right to Development on its 20th session (Geneva, 29 April to 3 May 2019): In its resolution 39/9, the Council decided that the Working Group should commence the discussion on the elaboration of a draft legally binding instrument on the right to development, through a collaborative process of engagement, including on the content and scope of the future instrument. View documents A/HRC/42/35 and A/HRC/42/35/Corr.1

Report of the Working Group on the Right to Development on its 19th session (Geneva, 23 to 26 April 2018): Reviewed ongoing progress made in the implementation of the right to development. In this context it held an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to development and with experts on the implementation and realisation of the right to development. View document A/HRC/39/56