6th Meeting, 14th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development

They are actually treated like non-existent people. And that sank into their thinking. All African Union resolutions prior to apartheid, the end of apartheid, started by recognizing that. So this is simply to say in a complex situation like that one, it is important in the U.S. context, to speak to people in the Congress, to approach people, to be at various forums, or else you will give up too early. A fight for freedom, it's an evolving process. That's what I can recommend. I was telling you about the great achievement in terms of democracy in South Africa. the norms to South Africa that when you are holding a public office, you must be careful. And that has not always been like that. So it's a development that grew into the constitutional democracy of the country and became the model in Africa. When you do comparative constitutionalism, And you are in South Africa, you are very pleased with the progress. Everything is not perfect, but there are things that many other parts of the continent can learn from. But we can get back to the question when, if we have more time. I would like to give the floor to colleagues, probably in two minutes each. to bring in some concluding remarks, starting again with you, Commissioner Aquino, over to you.

Thank you so much, Chair, and really thank you to all the speakers and even those that raise questions with us. Our conversation has brought us back to a fundamental point that illicit financial flows are not simply a financial or technical problem. They're a development problem and human rights concern. When public resources are diverted, consequences are felt in different areas, in classrooms, in hospitals, in our infrastructure, and really in our everyday opportunities that are available to all of us as human beings. But let me say to you, priorities for us that I think needs to be taken forward are three, where we need institutions that can turn commitments into action, laws and policy frameworks that matter, but their effectiveness must depend on the independent oversight, capable investigators, prosecutors, courts that are functioning, and sustainable political commitment. Financial literacy complements these efforts by helping us as a people to recognize where there's abuse, protect our resources, but most importantly, demand that there should be accountability. Secondly, international cooperation must deliver practical results. Our audience this afternoon, Chair, raised important questions. Can the urgency and coordination used in other cross-border investigations also be applied to illicit flows? Stronger mutual legal assistance, timely information sharing, coordinated investigations can help close the gap between identifying stolen assets and recovering them. But recovery is only part of the task. The return and the use of these resources must also be transparent, accountable, and responsive to the people affected. Recovered assets should translate into public benefit with safeguard against further diversion and meaningful opportunities for communities to participate. Lastly, Chair, our approach must be inclusive and attentive to historical context. The final intervention reminds us that discussions about financial justice must also make space for questions of colonial dispossession, discrimination, indigenous peoples' rights, and access to effective remedies. These concerns deserve careful engagement. We may not resolve them within this session, but we should inform questions we carry forward. As I conclude, let us measure progress through concrete outcomes, stronger institutions, more effective cooperation, resources recovered and responsibly used, and communities better able to exercise their right to development. Thank you so much for this opportunity, and also congratulations to the organizers, the University of Free State, for this well-thought panel. And looking forward to the symposium in January 2027, Chair. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Commissioner. Over to you.

Thank you, Chair. I want to say some few points regarding to the question raised by the representative of the NGO from Tunisia, I think. So for sure, for asset recovery tracing also, there is a need for mutual legal assistance. That's why African Union Commission engage a continental study. to examine the opportunity and challenge related to cross-border cooperation in criminal matters, asset tracing, and also asset recovery. So this study will be validated, as I said, in Abuja next month from 17 to 20, where we'll have the Asset Recovery, Africa Asset Recovery Practitioner Forum. So one thing also I would like to bring on board is We are working on a model law regarding to asset recovery between the requesting and the destination, a model that African member states can use in their process of, you know, recovering the asset. Another issue is also an escrow account. We are working to create an escrow account. The objective of the escrow account is to ensure that We find a financial institution within Africa that can hold, that can receive the fund while the litigation is going on. This will allow to avoid depreciation of the fund, because most of the cases, you know, from the time the process, the procedure starting and at the end, the amount, the fund is depreciate most of the time. So, the option that we are, you know, examine from the continent level is to agree with one financial institution who will accept to receive the fund and hold it by the time the process, the litigation will come to end. So this is the triple. And one last point, I think it's respond to what the civil society from Egypt has raised, the concern. I think civil society, you can play a key role to assure that The recovered asset will not turn to another cycle of corruption. To assure that the recovery.

Good afternoon, I am pleased to begin the sixth and final meeting of the 14th session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. Before resuming agenda item 3, general debate, I would like to inform participants that those who were unable to deliver their statements during the panel discussions due to time constraints are invited to do so under the present agenda item. To accommodate all speakers, I kindly ask that a statement be limited to three minutes. Longer statements will be shared in writing with the Secretariat at ohchr-emrtd@un.org, and the expert mechanism will take then into account this work. The first, we have the first name on the list. The first name in the list of speakers is the representative of International Observatory for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights, Geneva, on behalf of Promotion du Développement Economique et Social. You have the floor.

Madame la Présidente. Madame Chair, our NGO hails the work of the Expert Mechanism on the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. 40 years following its adoption, one issue remains crucial: how to ensure that Development is not only a goal in terms of public policy, but also a right which is effectively exercised by each person and each people. In this respect, we would like to underscore the basic interdependence of the right to development, peace, and security. Lasting peace can only be limited when there's a lack of armed conflict. There must be responsible institutions, effective participation, equitable access to resources and essential services, as well as real prospects for the population. When structural inequalities remain, and when some communities are excluded from decisions concerning them, and young people lack prospects, fragility factors can be worsened. Exclusively security responses, when they're not supported with social investment as well as economic and institutional investment in the long term, may not address the profound causes of instability. Experiences in the Sahel and North Africa highlight the importance of an integrated approach which must be adopted to local context and based on human rights. It also highlights the need to pay particular attention to women, children, displaced persons, and populations who face prolonged vulnerable situations, so that no one is excluded. Against that backdrop, we encourage the mechanism to promote a more systematic integration of the right to development, including conflict prevention strategies and peace building strategies. Three priorities are key to us. Firstly, strengthen effective participation of people in defining development priorities. Secondly, enhance transparency and accountability in using resources to implement public policies. And thirdly, consolidate international cooperation between development stakeholders, humanitarian action, and those involved in peace in upholding their respective mandates. We also encourage the work to be done to assess the progress made, particularly when it comes to reducing inequalities in access to opportunities, participation, and benefits that are effectively perceived by the population. Madam Chair, the 40th anniversary of the Declaration must be an opportunity to renew our collective commitment to ensure that the right to development becomes an effective instrument for prevention, for human dignity and sustainable peace, because development which excludes peace, but if we have an instrument that is based on human rights, will contribute to consolidating its basis. Thank you very much.

I will give the floor to the representative of International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations. You have the floor. So, I give the floor to the representative of Cetim.

Thank you, madam Chair. We would like to speak on two important areas which were discussed during this session. First and foremost, peace, security, and the right to development. As everyone is aware, peace, is not an absence of war. The structural causes of conflicts must be eradicated, in particular inequalities, injustice, colonial domination, and unequitable legal order. We must also distribute wealth and establish international cooperation on the basis of good faith. In that context, it is essential to work for a world where wars are prohibited. This was and is the vocation of the UN, on the condition that the Charter be respected. And a number of roadmaps adopted, such as the Declaration on the Principles of International Law related to cooperation and friendly relations among states, the Declaration on Progress and Development in the Social Sphere, the Declaration on Granting Independence to Countries or Colonial Countries people, without forgetting the Declaration on the Right to Development, of course. In a world where the most powerful state is multiplying the wars of aggression, threats and blackmail, it is more urgent than ever to be committed to multilateralism. That is why we call upon all Member States of the UN to shoulder their responsibilities collectively to uphold international law, defend the multilateral system enshrined in the UN, and undertake complete and full disarmament. Secondly, on access to food, food security, and the right to development. We would like to recall that since 2018, we have a new international instrument entitled the UN Declaration on the Right of Peasants and Others Working in Rural Areas. This is the UNDROP in English. The aim is to enable the family producers to be protected from all forms of discrimination and from monopolies of agribusiness in the food chain. It should be recalled that despite agribusiness, family peasants and other artisanal producers such as pastoralists and fishermen suffer. 70% of the food production is produced by these globally. However, they do not control the productive process or the marketing of their products. Now, if implementation takes place as it should, UNDROP would overcome the barriers faced by family peasants and other rural workers in access to seeds, the land, water, and other natural resources. It would also make it possible for the rural population to work in dignified conditions and to be able to live off their labour by ensuring food security. That is why we call upon all States to take measures nationally and internationally to implement UNDROP. Realising UNDROP would mean achieving the right to development, understood within this framework as the right of the people to determine their own rural development model. Madame Chair, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your attention.

We have now a video message from Shanxi Patriotic Volunteer Association.

Dear experts, I am the founder of the Aipo. I would like to make a statement regarding right to development. The right to development has transformed from concept to implementation. We should focus on individuals and emphasize the state's obligations and the state's development obligation. What's important is not to hinder other countries' right to development. The right to development The subject of the right is the state, and the focus is on autonomous development, opposition to external interference. Article 2.3 of the Declaration affirms the right of a state in terms of right to development. However, there's no effective monitoring mechanism, and that's where the CSO can come in. During the 51st Human Rights Council, we raised the concept of patriotism without harming other countries, which has been supported by 331 NGOs from 69 states. We adopted the International Patriotic Pact, affirming that no country should undermine other countries' interests, security, and development interests when pursuing their own development. Transforming the pact into action, we also adopted review mechanism for right to development, which was launched in September 2026 in Nairobi, and has become independent civil society procedure. We invite the expert mechanism to consider incorporating the national rights to development review mechanism in the non-state actor monitoring framework related to the right to development. and as a supplementary document for review of right to development and make it verifiable. Thank you, experts and delegates.

Thank you. The next speaker on the list is the distinguished delegate of Saudi's Asia Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression Caucus. You have the floor.

Thank you, madam Chair. I am Madada Chaijit, an intersex human rights defender, human rights lawyer, and founder of Intersex Thailand. I speak on behalf of South Asia's Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression Caucus, Manushya Foundation, and Intersex Thailand. 40 years ago, the Declaration on the Right to Development called for women to have an active role in development. Mandatory human rights due diligence can help make that real, but only if it sees gender in all its diversity. Business harm are not gender neutral, neither should due diligence be. The right to developments require everyone to participate and benefit without discrimination. Yet women and LGBTIQ+ people face barriers to employment, safety, and justice. I know how seeking accountability can bring further harm. I faced a criminal defamation slap case after supporting a transgender woman. who reported workplace sexual harassment and speaking publicly about her experience. When survivors and their defenders face retaliation, others are discouraged from reporting abuse, risks remain hidden, and harmful practice continue. Due diligence must therefore examine who can safely speak, whose complaints are heard, and who bear the cost of demanding justice. For intersex people, Exclusion can begin with invisibility, risk assessment that ignores that characteristic can miss discrimination entirely. A lack of data does not mean the lack of harm. Nobody should have to disclose intimate information to prove that their rights matter. The UN Working Group's gender guidance offers the framework to build on. Gender responsive assessment measures addressing inequality and remedy that change the condition enabling abuse. Mandatory due diligence laws must put into practice. We therefore ask this expert mechanism to recommend that member states, first, explicitly require gender-responsive and intersectional due diligence, covering sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics. Second, design laws and business grievance mechanisms with women and LGBTQ+ people, ensure safe participation, confidential reporting, data protection, and safeguard against reprisals, including SLAPP targeting survivors and defenders. Third, provide accessible gender transformative remedies, free legal assistance, interpretation, support the costs and reparations addressing discrimination and unequal power, alongside compensation. Due diligence laws must be designed with us, and accountability must protect those who speak out. We ask that experts mechanism to make gender and sex characteristics explicit in its conclusion and recommendations. Develop that leave women and LGBTIQ+ people behind fail its purpose. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now I give the floor to the representative from International Service Human Rights. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am Ranya Cheri Arirum, an international human rights lawyer and legal consultant at Manushia Foundation, speaking on behalf of the International Service for Human Rights and Manushia Foundation. Development cannot come at the expense of people's rights. The Chatri gold mine in Thailand illustrates how communities can be excluded from decisions made in the name of development. Villagers were given just 15 days to review a draft environmental and health impact assessment exceeding 1,000 pages. Before operations resumed in 2023, no new comprehensive environmental or health impact assessment was conducted. Environmental approval with EIA alone is no proof that human rights are protected. In 2025, following Manushia Foundation's urgent appeal, nine UN special procedures mandates raised serious concerns about intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders, criminal charges against protesting villagers, and restrictions on meaningful public participation. Despite these challenges, affected communities continue to organize and seek justice. After nearly a decade of litigation, They secured a court ruling in March 2026, ordering compensation and environmental rehabilitation. However, the ruling is under appeal, delaying remedies. That persistent offers lesson in collective access to justice. Thailand's responsible business conduct act offers an important opportunity, yet its main due diligence duties focus on large companies, while micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises account for 99.5% of businesses in Thailand. Most businesses would therefore remain outside these direct enforceable duties, even smaller businesses capable of causing harm. The draft relies mainly on administrative fines without creating specific civil or criminal liability for breaches of those duties. Existing liability under other laws remains, but communities need clear rules to accountability and compensation. Due diligence must prevent harm, not become paperwork. We therefore ask the expert mechanism to share effective approaches and recommend that member states first require mandatory, enforceable, and ongoing human rights and environmental due diligence across businesses of all sizes, proportionate to their circumstances and risk, including smaller businesses in high-risk sectors, ensure meaningful community participation and protection against reprisals. Second, ensure that public authorities responsible for overseeing environmental and human rights impact assessments are independent of corporate interests and undue political influence, and have the powers and resources to scrutinize assessment, publish findings, investigate complaints from affected communities, and suspend activities where serious risks remain unaddressed. Third, establish civil liability where due diligence failures cause or contribute to harm, and criminal accountability where misconduct constitutes an offense, ensure timely, affordable remedies, access to evidence, environmental restoration, and accountability for parent companies' extraterritorial obligations. Developments must be measured by the rights it protects and not just the project approved. Thank you.

Thank you. The next name in the list of speakers is a representative from Indian Council of South America. You have the floor.

Good afternoon, Madam Chairwoman and esteemed panelists. Is it okay? Okay. Thank you for your work and for the expert contributions during this session. It's been insightful. I'm here to report on the pledge made last year by the royal heirs of Kamehameha III from the Hawaiian Kingdom to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights to Development. To recap, we were able to identify a group of people who do not have access to their guaranteed inalienable rights to development, which stems from an even larger issue of being denied their inalienable rights to self-determination. These are people under occupation whose rights are being denied or obstructed by their occupier. The good news is a solution is already in place that protects civilians in occupied territory under customary international humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention. But what's missing is the registration system set forth in the Geneva Convention, Article 136 and 140, for qualified international protected persons to attain the protections afforded under the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Declaration of the Rights to Development, and the rights to self-determination. the royal heirs of Kamehameha III have pledged to facilitate the building of a registration system for qualified international protected persons in occupied territories not currently registered and protected at the ICRC, who has this mandate. The bonus is that this identified group of people can also access their inalienable rights to development that may currently be denied. After a year of diligent efforts and I must be candid. The registration system is not yet operational, and the pledge has not been completed, but important groundwork has been laid. Our proposal was to build, with the International Committee of the Red Cross and willing states and agencies, a registration system outlined in the Geneva Convention, Articles 136 and 140 of the Convention, a national information bureau, and a central information agency, including the registration and tracing of protected persons. We believe such a framework could also include documenting missing or lost personal property and support efforts towards repatriation and reparatory justice. Its design and implementation would need to be guided by the relevant legal and humanitarian experts. To date, we have identified technical engineers who have committed to building the two databases to support the required national and central information bureaus. Human rights legal experts have also identified, or have been identified to guide the project. A neutral host state has been identified to host the registration Central Information Bureau. A group of qualified international protected persons for registration has also been identified. And a guarantor committed to financing the databases and associated startup costs necessary to complete the first registration campaign using the Hawaiian Kingdom nationals as its first registration subjects. Our next step is to bring the relevant parties together. We respectfully request an in-person meeting with the Chairwoman and key agencies with mandates relevant to citizens in occupied territories, including the ICRC, to discuss legal requirements, safeguards, governance, the role of a host state, the occupier, and the practical path towards implementation. We recognize that the database alone cannot resolve questions of legal status or deliver justice, but a carefully designed registration and tracing framework should facilitate access to protections, inalienable or not. We remain committed to working with states, agencies, and experts to move this pledge from groundwork to implementation. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued commitment to the right to development and the right of all peoples. In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to officially register a formal diplomatic protest for the illegal foreign occupation within the Hawaiian Islands by the constitutional Hawaiian Kingdom royal heirs of King Kamehameha III, to whom the kingdom is permanently confirmed. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now I give the floor to the representative from no. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development. You have the floor.

Thank you, madam Chair. I am Emilee Palamy Praditit, founder of Manushya Foundation, and speaking on behalf of Forumeja and Manushya Foundation. Thank you to the expert and the Secretariat for these discussions and for welcoming our delegation of grassroots defenders and human rights workers from Thailand and Laos. We came to contribute lived experience and practical recommendations. As this session concludes, we ask, how will those contributions change what happens next? And so we would like to offer five recommendations. First, expand the expert mechanism mandate to explicitly include systematically assessing obstacles to the right to development alongside identifying and sharing good practices so it can recommend practical solutions grounded in communities' lived experiences. We cannot identify solutions without understanding the harms, inequalities, and power relations that make them necessary. Communities must be able to explain what has failed, why it failed, and what must change. Respectful discussion of these experiences should be welcomed as evidence for developing solutions. We ask the Expert Mechanism to strengthen this approach and, if necessary, recommend that the Human Rights Council explicitly clarify and strengthen its mandate. Second, make grassroots participation count in the outcome. Participation means more than receiving a speaking slot. If our contributions cannot influence the outcome document, our participation was not meaningful. We ask that community's recommendations be reflected in the conclusions and on future work. Third, remove language barriers through a decolonial approach to participation. Nittaya, a forest community leader, traveled from Thailand with us, but could not deliver her full statement in Thai. I read it for her. Her knowledge should not depend on her ability to speak English. We recognize the practical limits of interpretation, but these limits should not prompt planning and resources to overcome exclusion. Explore advanced submission of translated statement, coordinated interpretation arrangement, and support for community interpreters. Communities should not have to leave their languages behind to bring their knowledge into the United Nations. Fourth, make timely accreditation and visa support part of meaningful participation. One Indigenous woman in our delegation, Katima Alisha, could not attend after her visa was refused. For a woman traveling from a mountain community, even reaching the visa application center in Bangkok requires time, money, and a long journey. We ask for early accreditation decisions, prompt visa support letters, clear timelines, and coordination with host country authorities. States should facilitate timely visa processing for grassroots participants and stop the visa apartheid. These arrangements must recognize the distance between a community and an embassy, not just the distance between an embassy and Geneva. Fifth, recommend an annual UN forum on the right to development, drawing lessons from the Forum on Business and Human Rights. Give grassroots communities a funded, accessible space to exchange experiences, engage states, and follow up on commitments. Use that space alongside regional outreach to build informed participation in the process towards a legally binding instrument on the right to development. Communities in the Global South need accessible information about the draft, opportunities to propose wording, and real influence over a state’s negotiating positions. Participation requires resources, interpretation, and protection against reprisals. Forty years after the Declaration, communities must help write the next chapter, not simply be invited to listen to it. We stand ready to work with you to turn these recommendations into practice. Thank you.

Thank you. The next speaker on the list is Amina Bensari, development expert. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, team, the panelists, hi, delegates, distinguished guests, thank you. We can achieve real sustainable development as long as inequalities and environmental catastrophes continue to threaten our world. Sustainable development is not only about economic growth, it is also about social justice, solidarity, and protecting the planet for future generations. The richest in Individuals and countries who generally have greater financial resources and often have contributed significantly to historical pollution should take greater responsibility for building a more balanced world. First, economic inequalities prevent millions of people from accessing basic needs. such as education, health care, clean water, and decent housing. For example, in many African countries, people face poverty and food insecurity despite the enormous wealth generated by the global economy. Wealthier nations can help by investing in schools, hospitals, renewable energy, and infrastructure. Second, climate catastrophes affect the poorest populations most severely, even though they often contribute the least to global emissions. In 2022, devastating floods in Pakistan destroyed homes, farmland, and infrastructure, leaving millions of people in need of assistance, disaster relief, and reconstruction. Third, the richest have both the means and the responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable world. They can support international climate funds, finance renewable energy in developing countries, and pay fair taxes to help reduce poverty. For example, the International Loss and Damage Fund was created to help vulnerable countries cope with climate disasters, but its resources remain far below the scale of the damage expected. In conclusion, sustainable development requires more than protecting the environment. It requires a fairer distribution of wealth, shared responsibility, and international cooperation. The richest would, should contribute according to their financial capacity, while governments must ensure that resources are used transparently and effectively. After all, we cannot build a sustainable future for some while leaving millions of others behind. Thank you, madam Chair. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Now I give the floor to the representative of International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. First of all, we'd like to commend the experts that have been appointed and commend their commitment to promoting and exercising the right to development. It's an honor for us and for the students with us to have been here for the last three days at this 14th session of the Expert Mechanism. The honour is all the more great because we're meeting to celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, which shows the importance of our efforts to ensure full achievement of this right. We need to make the right to development a concrete reality for all. In this respect, we'd like to make comment on three issues: the effectiveness of the right to development, its practical implementation, and the full participation of populations, especially young people, in the decision-making processes for decisions that concern them. Finally, Chair, we'd like to commend the will of the mechanism in promoting dialogue with civil society, and in particular with students. We are sure that these exchanges contribute to bringing international institutions closer to younger generations and strengthening the understanding of issues related to the right to development, as well as encouraging their participation in discussions that will shape their future. Thank you. Thank you very much.

We have exhausted our list of speakers under agenda item 3 on general debate. I would like now to give the floor to my fellow expert to reply or comment on the statement that were just delivered. Anything? No? Okay.

Very briefly. I'd like to express my thanks to all of the speakers who have just spoken, and I'd like to say that we take very seriously indeed your participation during our sessions. And of course, all of the comments related to the various thematic studies and the thematic panels will be taken into account for our work. I'd like to specifically thank you for the comments made on peace, security and the right to development. Rest assured that we will integrate those comments. And I would also like to thank you for the statements made. Let me repeat the potential that I always discuss, the right to development, which is a human inherent right to people, with a two-fold dimension which represents the intersection between civil and political rights, economic, social, and cultural, and environmental rights, which is based on participation. In other words, peoples and individuals are beneficiaries of those rights. And we are also tasked with demanding the development we wish to see for all of those rights. And in addition to the characteristics and the cooperation among states and all stakeholders, is taking them into consideration and talking about the principle of equality and non-discrimination, which is set forth in the Declaration on the Right to Development. So, we have very carefully taken note of all of the comments and statements made, and the stress which we wish to place on the principle of equality and non-discrimination. I'd also like to say that with the new setup and makeup of the mechanism, we're going to look at the best way in which to shed light on the best practices, so that our work and our thematic studies can be useful not only for states, but also for all players involved in the implementation of the right to development. So you will certainly see new developments on our website as how we're going to raise the profile of those good practices for the benefit of peoples and countries.

I thank all delegations and participants for their statements, which will inform our work. This concludes agenda item 3. We now move to agenda item 4, coordination meeting with other United Nations mechanisms on the right to development. Under this item, we have received a video message from His Excellency Mr. Samir Akram, the Chair Rapporteur of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development. Unfortunately, we have not received a video message from the Special Rapporteur on the right to development. For this session, however, we have arranged a meeting with him after the close of the 14th session to discuss how we can better coordinate our work. Let us now watch the video message from Ambassador Akram.

Distinguished Chair, members of the Expert Mechanism, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to address you in my capacity as Chair Rapporteur of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development. At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to the members of the expert mechanism and to the Special Rapporteur for their continued engagement with the Working Group. The 27th session of the Working Group took place in Geneva from 18 to 21 May this year. Despite the unsustainable budgetary situation and inability to use remote conference services, the Working Group managed in its last session to discuss some critical areas pending on its agenda, in a reduced session of four working days. It held an interactive dialogue with Mr. Surya Deva, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development, and Ms. Juana Marias Abinez Rivas, the Chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. We dedicated one meeting to the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the right to development, with a focus on regional perspectives on the right to development. And we continued to consider areas that proved difficult for some members while considering the draft International Covenant on the Right to Development, with a view to overcoming these diverging views. As such, we considered the duty to cooperate for the right to development, the right to peace or the prohibition of the use of force, and the possible contribution of disarmament to the realization of development. We deepened our discussions on coercive measures, in particular unilateral ones, and on illicit financial flows and the obstacles to their non-repatriation, with a focus on tax-related illicit financial flows. Finally, we also considered the areas of climate justice. The Working Group adopted its recommendations by consensus. It recommended, among others, that: 1. The High Commissioner take measures necessary to provide a balanced and visible allocation of resources and pay due attention to the visibility and effective implementation and mainstreaming of the right to development by systematically identifying and undertaking tangible projects dedicated to that right. 2. The Working Group continue to convene interactive dialogues with relevant experts aimed at addressing the divergent views expressed in the Working Group. 3. The Working Group convene interactive dialogues with relevant experts in current trends on official development assistance, financing for development, and imbalances in the international financial architecture, including international financial institutions, and assess their impacts on the realization of all human rights, including the right to development. The Working Group 4: The Working Group convenes interactive dialogues on best practices in international cooperation for the promotion of the right to development, in which North-South, South-South, and triangular cooperation initiatives are presented. 5. That the High Commissioner include in his next report on the right to development an analysis of existing practices and the challenges and obstacles to the realization of the right to development, including unilateral coercive measures, the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin, and the impact of the debt crisis on how to overcome them; and It further invited the Special Rapporteur and the expert mechanism to continue to contribute to the work of the Working Group. There is ample opportunity for cooperation between the various United Nations mechanisms on the right to development, without overlaps and in full respect of each distinctive mandate. There is room to collaborate on issues like measuring and assessing progress, made in the realization of the right to development and in the further legal development of the right to development, notably in supporting the early adoption of the draft International Covenant on the Right to Development. And there is room for collaboration in thematic analysis in the multiple areas covered by the right to development and to deepen our understanding thereof. I therefore look forward to our continued cooperation and coordination of our work with the overall objective of contributing to the full realization of the right to development. I thank you.

I thank the chair rapporteur for his remarks. Before I open the floor, I would like to invite my fellow expert to share their thought on the coordination and on the right to development mechanisms. Shall we?

Thank you, Chair. So yeah, I think that these Three mechanisms are complementary, and this mechanism here offers something that really complements the work of the other two. We just heard from the chair rapporteur of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development. That's where the governments are coming together and trying to work out the nuts and bolts of finalizing and adopting a legally binding agreement on the right to development. And this body, as I said on the first day, is pretty new. This is the seventh year. With a new mandate, it takes a little time for the mandate holders to figure out the best way to move the work forward. And I think that with all of your contributions, this is a really good next phase. in the development of effectiveness for this mandate. It's providing a forum for states and civil society to contribute. And, yeah, so we look forward to working with the other mandates and all of you in seeing if we can make some progress in getting a legally binding mechanism on the right to development. really advancing best practices on what that looks like. Thank you.

Thank you, Brian. Ramona, please.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. And I thank Ambassador Akram for his message and continued leadership. I just wanted to cover a couple of points. I welcome the focus on the duty to cooperate. Our mechanisms can only clarify how this duty translates into action to address the structural inequalities that exist and have been highlighted during our discussions during these three days within and among nations so that we can create an or we can work towards creating an international environment that is enabling development. The attention to peace And disarmament is of utmost importance, and equally urgent is the focus on climate-related disasters that have lasting, devastating consequences on people's lives, on their mental and physical health, on their access to education, access to food, to water, on overall livelihoods, and also on public finances, especially for small island development states and other climate-vulnerable countries. Meaningful international cooperation helps support resilience and recovery while protecting and preserving the resources that are needed to realize human rights and ensure livelihoods with dignity. Of course, many delegates also mentioned the importance of the legal adoption or the adoption of the draft. International Covenant and the continued substantive and constructive dialogue that includes and addresses divergent views are critical to building the broadest possible support for this covenant. Like my fellow colleague, Brian, I'm also in support of the synergies between these mechanisms and the work of our respective mechanisms, respecting their mandates and avoiding duplication can only strengthen the work that we do, the thematic analysis that we are undertaking, the assessment of progress. with respect to advancing the right to development and its realization globally, and also the legal development of this right. And not of least importance, the budgetary constraints that is affecting the working group's work and our work as well, is just stressing the importance of adequate and predictable resources that we have mentioned in relation to issues related to the right to development and inclusive participation. Our commitment to the right to development must be reflected also in the means available to advance it. Thank you.

Thank you, Ramona. Serge.

Thank you very much, Chair. I would also like to thank Ambassador Akram for his comments and his remarks. This is very squared with what I had said in my introduction here in the first day of this session, where I thought the mandate should complement each other. I thought a collaboration within various mechanism can only strengthen our objective, having the common goals. Our common goal is what? Is the achievement of the right to development, inclusive development, human-centered development. I am also pleased to note the remarks of Ambassador Akram in light of what is of interest. We cannot ignore climate justice these days. We cannot ignore illicit financial flows. peace and security, and other areas that really fundamental to address the right development questions. Of course, in our activities, we really want to.

That.

Albeit the independent expert on the right to development is not here or did not send the video, we are already working in collaboration with his office. He actually sent a video on the session that deals with the draft study on illicit financial flows and the right to development. This is to say that we really looking forward to collaborate with various UN mandate to advance the right to development. Last but not least, we would like to also hear the view of states, international organization, national human rights institutions, and other stakeholders to participate to the work that we do. Before we conduct the study, when we send a request for input, least it's an opportunity to share your views so that when we are drafting the study, we can already consider your views while working on the study. So this is to say we really looking forward not only to work within the UN framework, but also to work with you all, states, NGOs, and all other stakeholders. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Serge. Now I open the floor to all participants in the room, and I will start with representatives who have already registered on the list of speakers. For all others, please just raise your nameplate and kindly remember to limit your intervention to two minutes. Now I give the floor to the representative from OIC. You have the floor.

Thank you, madam Chair. The OIC delegation welcomes the coordination efforts of the United Nations mechanisms on the right to development and assures them of its continued cooperation and support in advancing the realization of this important right. We thank the Chair Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Right to Development and the members of the expert mechanisms for their valuable remarks. We appreciate efforts of the UN mechanism in the realization of the right to development in line with their respective mandates. Through their work within the broader United Nations human rights framework, they are making a valuable contribution to promoting awareness on the right to development, strengthening advocacy efforts, and supporting its effective implementation. The OIC reaffirms its commitment to the realization and enjoyment of the right to development by everyone, everywhere. We believe that the realization of the right to development is essential both for human development and for enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. The OIC firmly believes that besides national efforts, effective international cooperation is a prerequisite for the full realization of the right to development and the universal enjoyment of all human rights. We therefore call for the early adoption of the draft International Covenant on the Right to Development, as it would provide an important framework for bridging the existing gaps and advancing durable solutions to persistent and interconnected challenges. Such an instrument would also strengthen accountability and contribute to translating the principles of the Declaration into practical action. In concluding, we reiterate our appreciation to the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development for a successful organization of the 14th session and look forward to further strengthening our cooperation in advancing the realization of the right to development. I thank you very much.

Thank you. I recognize the representative from APG 23. You have the floor.

Madam Chair, APG 23 is pleased to contribute to this essential exchange on strengthening cooperation across United Nations mechanisms dedicated to direct development. Today's complex global reality marked by raising conflicts, inequalities. Unsustainable debts, economic volatility, and environmental degradation demands on integrated and decisive international response. The right to development is not merely a political aspiration, it is an imperative for human central global progress. UN entities must move beyond siloed approaches toward genuine operational alignment. This coordination meeting provides a timely opportunity to build a shared roadmap across the different mandates. We encourage the expert mechanism, the special rapporteur, and the open-ended working group on the right to development to advance three key priorities. First, Leverage synergies in policy and reporting, aligning reporting frameworks and policy analysis among the expert mechanism and the special rapporteur to deliver unified, actionable recommendations to member states. Second, address structural economic barriers, focus joint advocacy on reforming the global financial architecture, securing equitable access to technology and mobilizing fair climate finance to ensure structural equality for developing nations. Third, elevate local and rights holder voices. Facilitate that communities most impacted by development policies, including youth, indigenous groups, and marginalized populations, are directly involved in policy design and monitoring. Finally, since the Vienna Declaration gave the mandate to OHCHR of mainstreaming the right to development, we suggest to include it in this coordination meeting, as well as other UN agencies and bodies related to development such as UNDP, UNCTAD, the Advisory Committee, etc. An effective multilateral system depends on shared responsibility and coherent action. By reinforcing cross-mechanism collaboration, we can ensure that the right to development serves as a practical driver of justice, equity, and human dignity worldwide. Thank you.

Thank you. The next speaker in the list is the representative from Arab Council for Supporting Trials and Human Rights. You have the floor.

The Arab Council would like to express its thanks to the working group and to the Secretariat, as well as to the interpreters. for being so patient with us over the last three long days. The Arab Council would like to pay tribute to the efforts undertaken by the working group, and as an NGO, we would like to convey our recommendations to you in the form of a report or a study. Lastly, we would like to put forward a number of recommendations briefly. Council advocates for the drafting and preparation of a specific framework. Indeed, we would request the United States to move from a theoretical framework to a more practical one on the ground, so as to face cross-border challenges, including threats caused by militia army in Sudan, for instance, and also in Yemen. It would also be important to follow the sources, the funding sources of these militia. In fact, it would be important to draw up a specific framework to combat mercenaries and armed groups, and we would request that an end be put to the armed occupation and that there be a change in the Palestinian situation, we would ask the members of the group to incorporate illicit trade on the agenda for the next session. It would also be important to guarantee the safety and security of water resources. We therefore request that measures be imposed which would prevent states from building dams over large rivers. And we would also request that there be traceability of illicit financial flows so as to rechannel them towards infrastructure, healthcare, education, etc., for the population most in need. Thank you very much indeed for your patience and for giving us an opportunity to take the floor. And I hope that we will have further opportunities in the coming meetings. Thank you.

The floor to the representative of Indian Council of South America. You have the floor.

Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair, and members of the expert mechanism. I realize that you are a new group, and we had a time convincing the former group and even discussing at one point Human Rights Council resolution 48/7 amongst and with some of the states who were able to sponsor that resolution. So this is the reason why it's important for us and to relate to you that we were strongly advised by the independent minister counsellors of particular states and of some groups not to participate as peoples under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, simply because that, in 2014, is being addressed under domestic law of the state. In this regard, It is important that the status as subjects of international law that we hold and that our territorial integrity, which is in GA Resolution 1514 and in other international law documents, That we hold our territory and resources as absolute title and not under the diminutive construct, which is described as a legal fiction under the United Nations permanent forum study on discovery title. So that's why this original independent status must be the foundation for addressing our international humanitarian law. and the progressive development of international law under Article 13 of the UN Charter, and the human rights law as states and peoples who have the right to self-determination. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much. Thank you all for your participation. Please be assured that the Expert Mechanism will continue to coordinate with the Chair Rapporteur of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Right to Development and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development to ensure synergies among the mandates and avoid duplication. We have concluded agenda item 4. The last item on our agenda and program of work is item 6, conclusion of the session. Before we proceed, I would like to return to the quiz on the Declaration on the Right to Development that we launched on Monday morning. As announced, we now invite all participants to take the same quiz a second time. You will see the QR code on the screen. Please scan it with your phone and answer the same 12 short questions. It takes about 10 minutes. The QR code will be active for the next 15 minutes. Please remember to enter the same code you used on Monday, the first two letters of your first name and the day of the month you were born. This allows us to compare the results and see what our three days of discussion have added to our understanding of the Declaration. If you did not take the quiz on Monday, you are still very welcome to take part now. The Expert Mechanism is mandated to submit one annual report and up to two thematic studies to the Human Rights Council each year. The Council considered the right to development during its September session, and we submit our reports and thematic studies to these sessions. The conclusions adopted at this 14th session in Geneva will be reflected in our annual report that will cover both the 14th and 15th session of the expert mechanisms. The annual report will be submitted to the 66th session of the Human Rights Council in September 2027. We now move to agenda item 6 and the formal adoption of the conclusions of the session. As agreed upon by the members of the Expert Mechanism and our closed meeting, we will read the draft conclusions together. I will begin with the first part, and my fellow experts will then each read the following parts in turn. The expert mechanisms conclude its 14th session and expresses its appreciation to members and observer states, United Nations entities, intergovernmental organizations, regional mechanisms, national human rights institutions, experts and academics, civil society, and indigenous people for their meaningful contribution and continued engagement throughout the session. The expert mechanism note that this session was held in the context of the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development, providing a timely opportunity to identify good and best practices and take stock of obstacles to the realization of the right to development. The expert mechanism takes note of the change and contributions made during the session. This deliberation will inform the conclusions and recommendation contained in the expert mechanism's annual report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly in 2027. It will also brief on the thematic studies of the expert mechanism. The Expert Mechanism appreciate the continued support expressed by Member States for the fulfillment of its mandate and for the right to development. The Expert Mechanism note that discussions during the session highlighted the continued relevance of the right to development in addressing contemporary challenges and identify a range of obstacles to its realization. At the international level, this include an inequitable international economic and financial architecture, unsustainable debt burdens, declining unconditional development assistance, unilateral coercive measure, illicit financial flows, and unequal access to technology, including the widening digital divide. At the national level, participants pointed to persisting inequality, weak governance and corruption, and the exclusion of people and communities from meaningful participation in decisions that affect them. They note that conflict and insecurity, foreign occupation, climate change, food insecurity, and lack of access to safe water further undermine development gains. And that these challenges fall hardest on those already marginalized, including indigenous people, women, children, and persons with disabilities. Participants also highlighted the gap between state commitments to the right to development and their implementation, and the absence of a legally binding framework to translate the Declaration on the Right to Development into concrete actions, obligations. During the general debate, the expert mechanism note the broad recognition of the right to development as a human rights grounded in the indivisibility and the interdependence of all human rights. Participants identify obstacles to its realization and highlight the importance of strengthening both national implementation efforts and international cooperation. Support was expressed by many for progress in the adoption of a legally binding instrument on the right to development. The expert mechanism also note calls for a comprehensive and balanced approach that place people at the center to fully realize this right, which has both individual and collective dimensions. During this session, the expert mechanisms consider two draft thematic studies entitled Peace and Security and the Right to Development and Illicit Financial Flows and the Right to Development. The expert mechanism is grateful for the contribution received from member states and other stakeholders and emphasize the importance of continued exchange and collaboration in advancing its work. In its consideration of the thematic study on peace and security and the right to development, the dialogue confirmed the progress made in the draft study. It emphasized that peace and security are not merely the absence of armed conflict, and that peace, security, and development require a people-centered approach that goes beyond strictly economic and military perspective. Regarding state obligation to promote the establishment, maintenance, and strengthening of international peace and security, participants reaffirmed that, in addition to the prohibition of the threat or use of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes, this obligation entails respecting and ensuring all human rights within the framework of the rule of law, access to justice, and the participation of all persons and people. With regard to the obligation to achieve general and complete disarmament, participants stressed the need to ensure transparency in arms expenditure at the national, regional, and international levels in order to foster cooperation, solidarity, and accountability. They also called for military expenditure to be redirected towards health, education, and development. Concerning the obligation to eliminate mass and flagrant violation of the human rights of people and persons affected by situations arising from breach of peace and security, participants underlined the need to revitalize the commitment of States to their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian In fulfilling this obligation, participants emphasized the need to ensure the active, free, and meaningful participation of women, young people, and indigenous people as agents of peace. The Expert Mechanism expresses its appreciation for the more than 60 contributions received in response to its call for inputs for the study, as well as for the ongoing dialogue with experts on the relationship between peace, security, and the right to development. The expert mechanism committed to identify good and best practices in this area to ensure that the thematic study can serve as a genuine reference tool for the implementation of the right to development worldwide. I now give the floor to my fellow expert, Serge. You have the floor.

Thank you, Yanni. In its consideration of the draft study on illicit financial flows and the right to development, The expert mechanism noted broad agreement that the realization of the right to development requires adequate resources and that illicit financial flows constitute a major obstacle to its implementation, draining resources needed for public service and development. The discussion further highlighted that illicit financial flows are a global problem affecting all regions and exacerbating inequality. Asset recovery is both a human right and development issue, and that recovered assets should be managed in a transparent, accountable, and participatory manner to ensure tangible development benefits. The discussion also highlighted the importance of national and international cooperation in addressing illicit financial flows, referring to existing frameworks while calling for reform of the international financial architecture and welcoming ongoing negotiation on the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation. The right to development should not only be viewed as adversely affected by illicit financial flows, but also as part of the solution through the principles of meaningful participation, non-discrimination, self-determination, and equitable distribution of benefits. The discussion underscored the importance of strengthening institutions and promoting effective asset recovery and management. A submission to the expert mechanisms study on illicit financial flows and the right to development are invited by 16 November 2026. Now, I give the floor to my fellow expert, shall we? Shall we? You have the floor.

Thank you, Serge. The Expert Mechanism also held three focused thematic discussions under this program of work and expresses its appreciation to all panelists and participants for their contributions. In a discussion on the role of business in realizing the right to development in the age of mandatory human rights due diligence, The Expert Mechanism noted that participants drew attention to the growing role of business enterprises in contributing to the realization of the right to development beyond a do-no-harm approach, and to the contribution of managing human rights due diligence frameworks in promoting responsible business conduct and sustainable economic activities. The discussion further examined opportunities and the challenges related to mandatory human rights due diligence legislation, MHRDD, particularly in the context of developing countries and the global supply chains. It is recognized that the MHRDD, being part of the smart mix, is an important approach and tool with regard to the implementation of business' responsibility towards human rights globally. It is also recommended that the principles of right to development need to be integrated into the making, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of MHRDD, so that its potential and effectiveness can be fully cultivated. Participants therefore stressed the importance of meaningful stakeholder engagement and of integrating human rights considerations throughout business operations and the value chains. And called for approaches that promote partnership, capacity building, and access to remedy. And I'll give floor to my fellow experts, Ramona. Ramona, you have the floor.

Thank you, Xiaoyi. In the panel on access to food, food security inequalities, and the right to development. Participants highlighted that despite sufficient food and resources existing in the world, hunger persists because structural inequalities shape who can afford food, access land and water, benefit from public policies, and have a voice in decision making. Furthermore, hunger and poverty deepen structural inequalities and limit individuals' ability to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy the right to development. Addressing food insecurity, therefore, requires tackling its structural drivers, including concentrated corporate power, discrimination, conflict, climate change, and constrained fiscal space. The panel stressed that starvation of civilians must never be used as a method of warfare. Food systems and access to food for everyone must be protected and ensured at all times. Sustainable responses require social protection, climate resilience, equitable access to resources, and meaningful participation by affected communities, supported by transparent budgets, independent monitoring, and effective remedies. International cooperation is crucial for ensuring accessible and predictable financing, strengthening national ownership and addressing unsustainable debt, technology transfer with greater responsibility borne by those with stronger financial capacity and greater historical responsibility for environmental harm. Realizing the rights to food and development also requires political will, accountability, and structural responses that address the conditions perpetuating hunger and make freedom from hunger a reality for all. Expert mechanism encourages states to translate recognition of the rights to food and development into coherent public policies and effective institutional mechanisms to integrate social protection, school feeding, public food procurement, and sustainable rural development. These measures should include securing equitable access to land, water, seeds, credit, technology, and technical assistance. and should prioritize those people who are confronted with the greatest barriers, particularly smallholder farmers, women, young people, indigenous peoples, and rural communities. The expert mechanisms calls on states and other stakeholders to protect food producing resources and infrastructures, respect agreements governing shared waters, and ensure accountability for practices that undermine access to food. Strengthened climate resilient agriculture, disaster risk reduction, water management, and productive infrastructure are crucial for food security, while improving supply chains, reducing food waste, and redistributing surplus food. Where states have limited resources, international assistance and cooperation should be considered. It accompanies the possible national measures in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to enable a state to implement measures to the maximum of its available resources. The discussion is instrumental for a future thematic study on an adequate standard of living and the right to development. I now give the floor to my fellow expert, Brian. Brian, you have the floor.

Thank you. In the panel on indigenous peoples and the right to development, the expert mechanism noted the importance of grounding the realization of the right to development for indigenous peoples in self-determination. Participants emphasized that indigenous peoples are rights holders with their own governance systems, knowledge, and development priorities. Recurrent themes include respect for free, prior, and informed consent, protection of lands, territories, and resources, and the need to ensure that development, conservation, climate action, and extractive projects do not undermine Indigenous peoples' rights. Several speakers stressed that development should be defined and led by Indigenous peoples themselves, reflecting their cultural identities, institutions, and visions of well-being. Attention was drawn to secure land tenure, effective participation, access to justice, while States highlighted policy reforms aimed at strengthening Indigenous peoples' inclusion and leadership. The exchange highlighted the importance of strengthening free, prior, and informed consent and shared decision-making processes, particularly in relation to land, conservation, and business activities. Closer collaboration was expected between the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, with a view to identifying good practices, advancing free, prior, and informed consent, and promoting inclusive development models. The Expert Mechanism recognizes that the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development serves as a timely reminder of the continued relevance of its principles and of the need to intensify efforts to translate them into practice. The Expert Mechanism will draw on the insights generated during this session in its future activities and will continue to promote dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of knowledge in support of the realization of the right to development.

Thank you, colleagues. Before closing the session, I would like to ask if there are any requests from the floor to add or, okay, to or comment on our conclusions. I recognize the distinguished representative of APG 23. You have the floor.

Madam Chair. APG 23 thanks the expert mechanism for this 14th session that has been very enriching, especially through the holding of very interesting panels on the various thematic studies. We are looking forward for the finalization of such studies that surely will contribute to a further understanding of the right to development. We are also grateful for the opportunity given to civil society to take the floor and bring its experience from the field. Over the past two days, our rich dialogues on peace and security, illicit financial flows, role of business and enterprise, and access to food have underscored a central truth: development cannot thrive amidst structural inequalities, global economic fragmentation, or conflict. The insight shared by states and civil society reaffirm that the right to development is an unalienable human right, essential for achieving global justice and realizing the 2030 Agenda. The challenges before us are immense, but so is our collective resolve. We must move past sterile political divides and economic mechanisms that treat human lives as collateral. Reclaiming the right to development means dismantling systemic barriers, halting illicit financial flows, and redirecting resources from deadly military expenditures towards human integral growth, health, and peace. Moreover, we must ensure meaningful participation for all people, especially the most vulnerable. Let this session serve as a moral awakening. We call on states to embrace international solidarity. abide themselves to legally enforceable commitments that place the human person, especially the most vulnerable, at the heart of the global community. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Does anyone wants to take the floor? No? Will any of my fellow experts like to take the floor? So, Brian, you have the floor.

Yeah, so, just to be clear, we have taken copious notes on all your recommendations, and we'll be working to incorporate them into our annual report. But for this report, I think we have one glaring omission that we need to address. And it's in the paragraph about those who are most impacted. So the conflict and insecurity, foreign occupation, climate change, food insecurity, and lack of access to safe water further undermine development gains, and that these challenges fall hardest on those already marginalized, including indigenous people, women, children, and I propose that we put LGBTQI people and persons with disabilities. I think it's important that we acknowledge the participation of our friends from Asia. And then I think that's the only edit that I am suggesting in this report. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Brian. Okay. Anyone else? No? To conclude, I would like to... Are you sure? To conclude, I would like to thank all the delegates and participants for their active participation during these three days. Our very special thanks as well to the interpreters. who made it possible for participants all over the world to follow discussion in their language. The expert mechanism would like to also thank all those who provide support during the session and over the years. Finally, we will greatly appreciate your feedback on this session. Please scan this QR code, it's another QR code, now on the screen to share your comments with the Secretariat. We will, it's not there? It will be there. Okay. It will be there. We will really appreciate your feedback on this session. Please feel free to scan the QR code on the screen to share your comments with the Secretary. The 15th session of the Expert Mechanism is scheduled to take place from 27 to 29 April 2027, New York. We will be grateful for your continued support and engagement in the work of the Expert Mechanism, I would also like to inform you that the Social Forum organized by the Right to Development Section of the Office of the High Commissioner will begin its work tomorrow in the Assembly Hall, and you are all warmly invited to participate. Right now, the expert mechanism will go to the closed meeting. I declare the 14th session of the expert mechanism on the right to development closed. Thank you very much.