New York, 23 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The United Nations General Assembly is holding a major high-level meeting today to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Right to Development, bringing governments and other representatives together at UN Headquarters as leaders consider how development, equality and human rights can be advanced amid persistent global disparities. The meeting is taking place during the 81st session of the General Assembly and its high-level week.
UN meeting marks Right to Development anniversary
The one-day high-level meeting is being held in Conference Room 4 at UN Headquarters in New York, with sessions scheduled from 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm local time. It includes an opening segment followed by a plenary segment involving participating delegations.
The event was mandated through General Assembly resolutions 79/170, adopted in December 2024, and 80/207, adopted in December 2025. General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman is presiding over the meeting.
The UN says the anniversary provides an opportunity to reaffirm development as a framework for confronting current international challenges while strengthening national policies and international cooperation.
Declaration places people at centre of development
The General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Right to Development on 4 December 1986 through Resolution 41/128.
Its central principle is that development is not solely a matter of economic growth. The declaration links development with people’s ability to participate in and benefit from economic, social, cultural and political progress.
Article 1 states that the right is an “inalienable human right” under which every person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy development.
The declaration also places responsibilities on states to create conditions favourable to development and calls for international cooperation to eliminate obstacles that prevent it.
UN highlights four decades of progress and inequality
The UN says the declaration has influenced efforts involving sustainable development, poverty reduction, social inclusion and international cooperation over the past four decades.
It also acknowledges that progress remains uneven. According to the UN General Assembly’s official meeting information, many countries continue to face structural barriers that restrict development prospects, alongside a persistent global financing gap.
These pressures make questions surrounding access to economic opportunities, public services and development financing particularly relevant as governments assess progress towards international development commitments.
Why today’s meeting matters
The gathering coincides with the UN General Assembly’s annual general debate, which runs from 22 to 26 September before concluding on 28 September. Heads of state, government leaders and senior representatives are in New York for a series of major diplomatic meetings.
For developing countries in particular, today’s discussions provide a platform for governments to address obstacles to inclusive development and the role of international cooperation in reducing disparities.
What happens next?
The meeting continues through its afternoon plenary session. The UN General Assembly President’s office has said the President’s statement and the meeting’s outcome will be published on the official meeting page once they are issued.
The General Assembly’s high-level programme continues on 24 September with a meeting addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise, followed by a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response on 25 September.
