Catholic-inspired NGOs advocate for the Right to Development at the UN, with New Humanity among key contributors
During the 26th Session of the United Nations Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the Geneva Office of New Humanity joined the Working Group of Catholic-Inspired NGOs (CINGO) in advocating for stronger global action to uphold this fundamental human right. Three oral statements were delivered in plenary sessions, addressing critical dimensions of the right to development in today’s world, co-sponsored by New Humanity, APG23 (Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII), and other Catholic-inspired organizations.
1. Challenging coercive measures that undermine human dignity
The first statement focused on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures (UCMs)—sanctions that often disproportionately harm civilian populations in affected countries. The NGOs expressed concern about how UCMs impede access to health care, education, water, and essential services, particularly harming the most vulnerable communities. “UCMs must be assessed from an ethical and moral perspective, they deprive people of fundamental human rights and dignity. This is unacceptable.” The statement echoed the call of UN experts for countries and institutions to withdraw or minimize such measures and to prioritize cooperation, peace, and integral development.
2. Recognizing the collective dimension of the right to development
The second intervention brought attention to the collective dimension of the right to development—a topic that remains debated within international law. The statement stressed that collective rights do exist, and the recognition of peoples’ rights has long been a cornerstone of the international human rights framework. Referencing international covenants and case law from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the NGOs advocated for a more dynamic and inclusive understanding of “peoples,” reflecting the realities of globalization, migration, and identity. “There can be no one-size-fits-all definition of peoples, we support a case-by-case approach as recommended by the Expert Mechanism.”
3. A call for international solidarity and legal commitment
In a general statement, the NGOs reaffirmed their belief that international solidarity and multilateral cooperation are essential to addressing today’s global challenges—from debt crises to inequality and conflict. They called for the adoption of a legally binding international covenant on the right to development, which would ensure that countries are accountable for creating enabling environments for development at national and global levels.
Quoting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, the NGOs highlighted the indivisibility of development and human rights: “The old dichotomy that holds development as somehow separate from human rights is entirely false.”
The consistent engagement of Catholic-inspired organizations at the United Nations underscores their commitment to integral human development, rooted in human dignity and global solidarity.