Blog by Donatella Benjamin, SI Representative to the United Nation in Geneva.
Amid growing challenges to international cooperation and multilateralism, the Expert Mechanism held its twelfth session on 27–29 October in Geneva, in support of collective efforts by the international community to promote and protect the Right to Development (RTD).
Over the three days, the session addressed a broad range of key topics, including preparations for the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the RTD, climate finance, public participation, the impact of trade tariffs, the implications of artificial intelligence for cultural rights and creative industries, and the indispensable role of civil society in advancing this fundamental right. Delegates raised concerns about persistent challenges such as climate change, debt burdens, unilateral coercive measures, and inequitable financial systems, stressing the need for reform of the international financial architecture and equitable access to resources. Civil society participation and the role of technology in development were also emphasised as critical for inclusive progress.
The Expert Mechanism warned of growing risks from climate-induced migration and artificial intelligence’s impact on cultural diversity, urging stronger regulation and global cooperation.
On 29 October, a panel titled “The role of civil society organisations in realising the right to development at the grassroots level” was organised with representatives from Member States and civil society organisations (CSOs) specialising in climate action, women’s rights, peace and humanitarian work, and youth empowerment. The panel stressed how the work of CSOs at the grassroots level enables a better understanding of the needs and claims of persons and groups in situations of vulnerability, through an intersectional approach — including children and adolescents, women, older persons, persons with disabilities, those affected by armed conflict and violence, migrants and refugees, indigenous and tribal peoples, as well as persons and communities exposed to climate change, among others. Human rights education, and specifically education on the right to development, is fundamental.
I was invited to the panel and had the honour of representing Soroptimist International. I highlighted two SI projects: in Kenya — Greening our Horizon — and in Cambodia — Empowering Women through Education and Leadership — which reflect Soroptimist International’s commitment to supporting all women and girls. Though different in context — environmental action in Kenya and education in Cambodia — they share the same goal: empowering women and girls to lead change in their communities, in the true spirit of the RTD. Together, they capture this spirit: every woman and every girl has the right to learn, to lead, and to act — for herself, her family, and her world.
As the Special Rapporteur on the RTD, Surya Deva, recently underlined, there is a mutually reinforcing nexus between gender equality and the right to development. Without gender equality, the right to development cannot be realised, not only for girls and women, but for anyone, irrespective of their gender.
Unfortunately, due to persistent inequalities, patriarchal norms and structural barriers, women and girls are unable to realise their right to development and remain disproportionately affected by poverty, conflict, and systemic exclusion.
