Least developed nations and the right to development
Development is one of the most pressing human rights requirements for the millions of people living in the least developed countries (LDCs). For all people, the right to development is fundamental. The concept that development is a right is founded on the notion that it goes beyond simply being a synonym for economic progress.
A "least developed country" is what?
Low-income nations that face serious structural barriers to sustainable development are considered least developed. They have low levels of human assets and are extremely susceptible to environmental and economic shocks.
The Committee for Development (CDP), which reviews the list of LDCs every three years based on the following standards, has 46 nations on it as of right now:
A country's position on the human assets index, B its position on the economic and environmental vulnerability index, and
C their gross national income per capita.
A nation must fulfill two requirements at the stated graduation level during two successive reviews in order to be removed from the list of LDCs. Between 1971 and 2011, just two nations graduated. Three nations have graduated since the United Nations' Istanbul, Turkey, adoption of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries in 2011. By 2024, five more should complete their degrees. Since 2011, fifteen nations have achieved the graduation criterion, indicating significant advancement, but falling short of the stated goal of enabling half of the least developed nations to achieve the graduation standards by 2020.
LDCs and OHCHR
Most of the least developed nations have OHCHR country offices where it provides assistance to:
implement the recommendations of international human rights mechanisms,
promote sustainable development through respect for human rights,
prevent violations and bolster protection of those rights, particularly in times of conflict and insecurity,
advance equality and combat discrimination,
strengthen the rule of law and accountability for those who violate those rights,
and promote participation and safeguard public space.
LDCs are committing themselves more and more to upholding and advancing human rights. Among the 46 LDCs,
40 ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as
40 each of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and ICESCR. The Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) was ratified by
41 countries;
47 countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and
45 have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
40 nations have ratified the Convention against Torture; The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families has been ratified by
17 countries;
42 countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and
13 have ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Not just in terms of development, but also in terms of citizen empowerment, democracy, the rule of law, and women's and other marginalized groups' rights, there continue to be serious deficiencies in LDCs.
Read more about the LDCs in this OHCHR summary of recommendations as well as the 2020 High Commissioner's report to the Human Rights Council on the right to development, A/HRC/45/21.
The new LDC Programme of Action is centered on rights.
A new 10-year program of action for the LDCs will be established at the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha in 2022. Following an evaluation of the current Least Developed Countries Programme of Action, the Secretary-General has identified six major areas for action:
(a) reaching sustainable debt levels in all least developed countries;
(b) addressing challenges brought on by high rates of urban growth while maximizing opportunities;
(c) giving special attention to youth, especially girls, and ensuring they acquire the skills needed to realize their aspirations;
(d) addressing bottlenecks in the global economy; and (e) addressing bottlenecks in the global financial system.
These will help ensure that all least developed nations and their peoples receive an equitable share of the benefits of development in accordance with the Declaration on the Right to Development.
Events
the fifth UN LDC conference in 2022
The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries will take place from January 23–27, 2022, in Doha, Qatar, per a decision made by the General Assembly. It will establish a new, ten-year plan of action for the least developed nations, which is crucial for enabling these nations to exercise their right to development.
In advance, OHCHR is fighting for the right of people from the least developed nations to actively take part in and contribute to the creation of the new program of action. In the new program, OHCHR is bringing attention to the difficulties facing human rights capacity-building and the significance of the right to development. The principles for the efficient exercise of the right to take part in international affairs can be useful.
the organisers of the Conference to consider the priorities of the least developed countries and their populations.
Realizing human rights and gender equality in the least developed countries: Contributions to the LDC5 Conference was the theme of a side event that OHCHR and UN Women held in conjunction with the first meeting of the UN LDC 5 Preparatory Committee.
In order to prepare for the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, OHCHR took part in the Asia-Pacific Regional Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (UNLDC-5). The Office made the following contributions to the debate at the meeting:
Session 2: Promoting our environment, regaining health following the coronavirus illness (COVID-19) epidemic, and fortifying society against upcoming shocks
Session 5: Structural change and durable infrastructure for long-term economic growth, poverty eradication, and fair employment for everyone
Session 6: Good governance at all levels, social and human development
Road to Doha: An ambitious plan for the coming ten years through revitalized and creative funding for the development of the LDCs in the Asia-Pacific
The Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries is hosting a special session on leveraging science, technology, and innovation to assist structural transformation and LDC graduation.
At the 4th UN LDC summit in 2011, the Istanbul Programme of Action was adopted.
LDC-IV, or the Fourth Conference of the Least Developed Countries, was held in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 9 to May 13, 2011, and it resulted in the adoption of the Istanbul Declaration and Programme of Action for LDCs for the ten years between 2011 and 2020. (IPOA).
The IPOA includes more references to human rights than the Brussels Programme of Action for the period 2001–2010, including the right to development and, for the first time, the right to food, the right to health, and the right to sexual and reproductive health, as well as a new section on "Gender equality and empowerment of women." All sections of the IPOA, save the Introduction, make reference to human rights.
According to the IPOA, the LDCs must:
bolster good governance, the rule of law, human rights, gender equality and women's empowerment, and democratic participation, especially by strengthening the role of parliaments; promote and respect all globally recognized human rights, including the right to development;
enact laws to ensure that everyone has the freedom to enjoy the best possible level of sexual and reproductive health, as well as overall physical and mental well; accelerate efforts to promote women's rights and gender equality, including the rights of women with disabilities; ensure equitable access for women and girls to education, basic services, health care, and economic opportunities;
Create and maintain national development plans that take the needs of women and girls into consideration; give women and girls full access to education and training, fundamental services, health care, and economic opportunities, including ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, financial services, and social protection;
expand access to family planning resources for women, men, and young people, and strengthen support for maternal health;
take decisive action to end violence, abuse, and discrimination so that women and girls can fully exercise their human rights, achieve the best possible quality of
living, and participate equally in the political, social, and economic life of their communities;
Promote effective representation and participation of women in all areas of decision-making, including the political process at all levels. Strengthen the function of pertinent national mechanisms. Increase resources for gender equality.
Development partners are urged to assist the LDCs in carrying out the aforementioned tasks.
Resources
Report of the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that examines the problems that have been encountered and the right to development's implementation in least developed countries (A/HRC/45/21)
"No meaningful development without human rights," Op-Ed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a new Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries.
OHCHR feature article: "Human rights are vital for development."
Statement made by OHCHR during the UN LDC IV session
participation in writing from OHCHR to the UN LDC IV conference