UN Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed that the global pledge to ensure a fair opportunity for every individual to live with dignity remains unfulfilled for millions of people, despite the notable progress achieved over the past forty years. This came during a high-level meeting held in New York on the sidelines of the General Debate of the General Assembly, to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the adoption of the "Declaration on the Right to Development."
Roadmap and new challenges
Guterres viewed that the Sustainable Development Goals still serve as the roadmap to ensure that no one is left behind, commending the progress achieved thanks to the resilience of countries and communities. Despite these achievements, he warned that the "development pledge" faces unprecedented tests, starting from the exacerbation of inequality and the growing burden of debt and conflicts, leading to the climate crisis which records destructive levels annually.
The Secretary-General also drew attention to the modern technological challenge, pointing out that the digital revolution and artificial intelligence, despite their immense potential, could turn into new tools for exclusion and division in the absence of justice. He called on world leaders to unite in the face of current divisions, emphasizing that development, human rights, and peace are interconnected paths that advance together.
Call for action and financial reform
Guterres stressed that the anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development should be a decisive call to action and to fulfill promises, not merely a moment for reflection, and urged the expansion of participation by individuals and states in the journey of progress. He also called for fulfilling international commitments to invest in fighting poverty by providing quality education, food security, and comprehensive healthcare, and making technology accessible to all.
Guterres added that there is a need to renew the call for reforming the international financial structure and to effectively address the debt crisis to provide the necessary financing for sustainable development. He also emphasized the necessity of tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, while accelerating the transition to renewable energy through strong alliances.
Confronting the planet's three crises
World leaders were urged to renew their commitment to human rights and the inherent dignity of human beings and to ensure the full participation of women in decision-making. He called for reviving the spirit of global solidarity inherent in the UN Charter to fulfill the promises of development for a shared future for all. It is worth noting that the "Declaration on the Right to Development" was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1986, representing a pivotal international document that recognizes that development is an inalienable human right.
The declaration stipulates the empowerment of every individual as well as all peoples to actively participate and contribute to economic, social, cultural, and political development, while ensuring their right to fairly enjoy its benefits and comprehensive fruits.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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