UN Declaration on the Right to Development 1986

Declaration on the Right to Development

Adopted by General Assembly Resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the conduct of international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion,

Recognizing that development is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural, and political process, which strives for constant improvement of the welfare of all the population and all individuals on the basis of their active, free, and meaningful participation in development and fair distribution of benefits that derive from it,

Whereas, under the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized,

Recalling the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

Recalling further the relevant agreements, conventions, resolutions, recommendations, and other relevant instruments of the United Nations and its specialized agencies concerning the integral development of the human being and the economic and social progress and development of all peoples, including instruments concerning decolonization, the prevention of discrimination, respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the maintenance of international peace and security, and the further promotion of friendly relations and cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter,

Recalling the right of peoples to self-determination under which they are entitled to freely determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social, and cultural development,

Recalling also the right of peoples to exercise, subject to the relevant provisions of both International Covenants on Human Rights, full and complete sovereignty over all their natural wealth and resources,

Mindful of the obligation of States under the Charter to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction of any kind as to race.