The confirmation that the right to the development is a human right was decided by the UN in 1986 which was won by the majority vote which left out the US as the only nation who disagreed with the declaration (Sengupta, A., 2001). This affirmation was made about 38 years after the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) was adopted which was made up of the civil and political rights along with the socio-economic and cultural rights (Sengupta, A., 2001). The right to development became part of the third “generation” of human rights in the 70s and 80s (Marks, S., 2004). This generation which was made up of rights belonging to human beings to solve environmental issues, communication and development (Marks, S., 2004). This essay aims to discuss human right to development and how it helps human beings access basic needs like housing, food, clothing, employment and health services (Sengupta, A., 2001). It also allows humans to add to and take part in the processes of development (Sengupta, A., 2001).]
Human rights are the rights everybody are allowed to have and enjoy despite their race, gender, age, ethnicity and religious beliefs (Sengupta, A., 2001).
The right to development is an absolute right in which everybody is allowed to bring forward, take part in and appreciate economic, social, political and cultural development of the nation in which all freedoms can be fully aware of (Sengupta, A., 2001). As the right to development became a human right, the civil and political rights united with financial and social rights which created a mental picture at the start of the post-second war human rights movement (Sengupta, A., 2001). The human right to development is helpful to a nation by bringing up problems of unfairness, inequality and lack of justice (Sengupta, A., 2001). It also helps in selecting international policies according to importance (Sengupta, A., 2001). The right to development is different from any other established policies for development, even though it might be seen as a way of providing basic needs, raising the gross national product or advancing the lead of human development.
The process of development, “in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realised,” would lead to “the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals, on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in the development and in the fair distribution of benefits resulting there from” (Sengupta, A., 2001). The right of development gives every human being the opportunity to access basic amenities and needs like housing, food, employment, health services and also a balanced sharing of income (Sengupta, A., 2001). In the process of development, human beings have responsibilities to be fully accepted by all the parties (Sengupta, A., 2001). This process allows individuals to take full responsibility for the development, uphold respect for the human rights and observe their duties in the community (Sengupta, A., 2001).
At the second UN World Conference on Human rights in 1993, a consensus was raised about the development of human rights saying “the right of the development, as established in the Declaration on the Right to development, as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights” (Sengupta, A., 2001). This affirmation was guided by the US, saying, “Human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birth-right of all human beings; their protection and promotion is the first responsibility of the government” (Sengupta, A., 2001).
The human right to development is a right which means economic, social and cultural rights are been fully understood (Rahman, K.F., 2014). As these rights are being realized, they should also be improved without disruption (Rahman, K.F., 2014). The right to development as a human right been implemented would regularise policies for understanding people’s rights and increase economic growth (Rahman, K.F., 2014). Human right to development allows individuals fully understand and realize their rights to independence and also gives people complete power over wealth and assets (Rahman, K.F., 2014).
After the declaration of the right to development as a human right, the human person became the heir of the right to development of all human rights (Rahman, K.F., 2014). The right to development inflicts responsibilities on individual states to ensure equal distribution of basic amenities and also to promote co-operation (Rahman, K.F., 2014). The Vienna Declaration of Action 1993 was made at the world meeting on human rights managed widely with the privilege to improvement (Rahman, K.F., 2014). This affirmation particularly reasserts that privilege to advancement as an indispensable piece of basic human rights (Rahman, K.F., 2014).
The right to development is explained in declaration of 1986, which has been open to all translations which may sometimes be argued (Rahman, K.F., 2014). Although if this affirmation is read together with other elements that are now known as International Bill of Rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the agreement on economic, social and cultural rights and if realised as a document on human rights transforming from the procedure of human rights movement, it can be a translation that will be of good use for its actualization (Rahman, K.F., 2014).
The right to development argue that the economic, social and cultural rights shouldn’t be taken less important that the civil and political rights (Marks, S., 2004). Nevertheless, the US still believe that those rights (economic, social and cultural) have brought no aim, thus, the right to development loses its significance (Marks, S., 2004). All human rights especially the right to development need gradual actions in the development process (Marks, S., 2004). The right to development has helped in giving freedom to individuals in the eighteen century Europe and North America to avoid economic exploitation and also creating opportunity to advance public goods by giving out rights and obligations to the key agents (Marks, S., 2004). The right to development gave rise and fame in the authorisation of the High Commissioner for human rights and the General Assembly needed the High Commissioner to make a new branch whose main focus will be to promote, protect the right to development (Marks, S., 2004).
In conclusion, human rights have a long historical upbringing and the belief in justice for all peoples everywhere will consequently lead to development (Fagan, A., 2010). This has brought the subject to limelight in geopolitical affairs.