Africans Urged to Make Sure that Right to Development Is Recognized, Respected

Addis Ababa, September 08/2023 (ENA) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen called on Africans to work together to ensure that the right to development is recognized and respected.

A regional consultation on the right to development as a tool for transformation and its nexus with peace and security was held in Addis Ababa today.

In his keynote address to the consultation, the deputy premier said development is not only economic growth or material progress. It is rather a comprehensive process of empowering individuals and communities.

“We must thus work together to ensure that the right to development is recognized and respected,” he stressed.
 

According to Demeke, the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development in 1986 was a fitting culmination of many decades of struggle to establish a strong normative framework in addressing the fundamental challenge of underdevelopment through a holistic approach.

To this end, Africans must underscore that peace, development and human rights are inseparable. And that is why the three issues are the pillars of the United Nations System. he pointed out. 

The deputy premier further noted that despite the substantial progress in durable peace, inclusivity and sustainable development, respect for the dignity of every African remains the primary agenda of our continent.

The right to development should be a crucial tool to accelerate the implementation of the two agenda that complement each other, he reiterated.

“I believe this conference will further explore how the right to development should be prioritized in promoting climate justice, trade and investment, including harnessing the African Continental Free Trade Area initiative.” 

Ethiopia recognizes the right to development and its key elements, including participation, equity and the right to property, according to Demeke.

 “We believe respecting the rights and dignity of every citizen, the pursuit of peace and sustainable development are two sides of the same coin.” 

This is the central guiding principle of Ethiopia's 10-year development plan that envisions  ensuring the rule of law, building strong institutions and creating inclusive and sustainable, and stable political order to create a prosperous society.

“We are committed to addressing all legitimate demands of our people peacefully. In this regard, we will continue to redouble our efforts to build inclusive political and economic institutions to promote balanced and integrated development.”

Demeke reiterated that Ethiopia advocates and implements the right to development in line with national contexts and priorities.

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Social Policy Chief, Saurabh Sinha said on his part that the nexus between human rights, peace and development in Africa is widely recognized and called for more integrated and systematic approaches to implement the existing development frameworks.

“In fact, given our circumstances, a sustained focus on development is the only option for Africa to achieve peace and human rights,” he elaborated.

Moreover, the chief added that increased trade and regional integration can support the nexus between peace development and stability.

To this end, the Africa Continental Trade Area can be a game changer to support economic transformation in Africa and contribute to reducing poverty and improving livelihoods by generating productive jobs for the new entrants in the labor market.

High Commissioner for the UN Human Rights, Volker Turk noted that deep and deepening inequalities continue to wreak vast swathes of the continent.  

He finally pointed out that “this consultation is extremely timely. We all agree that there is no peace without development. There is no development without peace; and there is no sustainable peace and development without respect to human rights.”