The Right to Development from a Human Rights Approach: Conceptual Bases, Legal Framework, and Contemporary Challenges

Flavia Piovesan

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139235600.015

12 - The Right to Development from a Human Rights Approach: Conceptual Bases, Legal Framework, and Contemporary Challenges

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2013

Flavia Piovesan

Edited by

Lanse Minkler

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Lanse Minkler: Affiliation:
University of Connecticut

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Summary

Introduction

The right to development is the right of individuals and peoples to an enabling environment for development that is equitable, sustainable, participatory, and in accordance with the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Such an environment is free from structural and unfair obstacles to development domestically as well as globally (UN High Level Task Force 2010).

The current scale and severity of global poverty provide a jarring contrast and add urgency to efforts to attain the sought-for enabling environment. In light of this, this chapter discusses the key attributes of the right to development from a human rights perspective, considering its conceptual and legal bases. As such, it particularly examines social justice; participation, accountability, and transparency; and international cooperation. It gives special emphasis to the legal framework of the right to development, examining the extent of the state duties to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to development at a national and international level.

Considering the 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development as a dynamic, living instrument of enduring value in addressing current and emerging challenges central to development, this chapter concludes by highlighting the contemporary challenges and perspectives of the implementation of the right to development, inspired by the human rights-based approach to development and a development approach to human rights.

Type: Chapter
Information: The State of Economic and Social Human Rights
A Global Overview
, pp. 306 - 328

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139235600.015[Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2013

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