Problem

Denial of right to a people to pursue development

Other Names:
Violation of the right to development
Nature:

The right to development comprises the rights of individuals, groups and peoples to participate in, contribute to and enjoys the benefits of: (a) economic development (including terms of production and equitable distribution of income); (b) social development (including the right to work, health and education, adequate shelter and food); (c) cultural development (including respect for cultural identity); (d) political development (including strengthening of democracy through, in particular, participation of individuals, groups and people in the decision-making process); (e) technological development; (f) development guaranteeing all parties the right to a healthy environment in a framework of sustainable development.

Factors which impede the realization of the social, cultural and economic rights, and so the right to development, include: (a) structural adjustment, the deterioration in terms of trade, and the reduction in the purchasing power for the developing countries; (b) the debt burden; (c) misconceptions of the State in its relations with society (e.g. official corruption, lack of income distribution, lack of participation by affected parties in economic and political decision making); (d) relative capacity of the market economy to promote the realization of all human rights, which is made less effective by the decrease in the percentage of GDP spent on official development assistance; (e) economic growth regarded as a panacea; (f) erroneous perception of development; (g) insufficient political will; (h) devastation of the environment; (i) size of military expenditure and existence of armed conflicts; (j) existence of a dualistic view of human rights.

Equally denying were the failure by many States to observe internationally-recognized human rights standards and, in particular, the right of self-determination, the rule of law, the right to participation in fundamental economic, social and cultural rights, and the principle of non-discrimination. That situation had manifested itself in serious and systematic violations of human rights, increased ethnic conflicts, aggressive nationalism, acts of racism, racial and other discrimination, xenophobia, religious intolerance, hatred and violence, substantial population movements, the phenomenon of refugees and displaced persons, inadequate protection of vulnerable groups, and inadequate participation of women, minorities and indigenous peoples.

Incidence:

Unequal distribution of wealth and income at both national and international levels has worsened in recent decades and has reached such dimensions as to be a genuine international scandal.

Contemporary development strategies have resulted in the creation of privileged national elites which follow the same patterns of consumption as hing-income groups in developed countries, while the great masses of the population cannot even meet their most basic needs. This follows a pattern practiced in developed countries for 50 years, where similar gaps exist. The actors and beneficiaries of these strategies constitute a minority, compared with the overwhelming but deprived minority.

Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
GOAL 1: No PovertyGOAL 2: Zero HungerGOAL 3: Good Health and Well-beingGOAL 4: Quality EducationGOAL 5: Gender EqualityGOAL 6: Clean Water and SanitationGOAL 7: Affordable and Clean EnergyGOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic GrowthGOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureGOAL 10: Reduced InequalityGOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesGOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionGOAL 13: Climate ActionGOAL 14: Life Below WaterGOAL 15: Life on LandGOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong InstitutionsGOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems
Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST