Right to Development: UN Special Rapporteur Urges a Shift From War Economies to a Peace Economy

Summary

On 30 October 2026, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Surya Deva, presented his report to the General Assembly's Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural). He stated that "States and companies should move away from funding war economies to investing in a peace economy."

In the same meeting, the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Right to Development and the Chair of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development called for the adoption of a legally binding covenant on the right to development, and the President of the Human Rights Council presented the Council's annual report amid funding constraints, according to UN Meetings Coverage.

Background

The Special Rapporteur on the right to development is one of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Rapporteurs are independent experts who serve in their individual capacity; they are not United Nations staff and do not receive a salary for their work, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The right to development is set out in the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in 1986. UN Meetings Coverage reported that a draft instrument to make the right legally binding awaits consideration, negotiation and adoption by the General Assembly.

Key Findings

Record Levels of Conflict

According to UN Meetings Coverage, the Special Rapporteur reported that in 2025 the world recorded 65 State based conflicts across 35 countries, the highest number since the Second World War, while global military expenditure reached approximately $2.9 trillion. "It is thus clear that more weapons do not mean more peace," he said.

Profiting From Conflict

According to OHCHR, the expert stated: "Conflicts have unfortunately become a profitable business for some States and companies." He said that some States are expanding territorial boundaries through unlawful invasions while others are taking natural resources, including critical minerals, of invaded countries, and that companies in sectors such as arms, technology, natural resources and construction are profiteering from conflicts.

Root Causes

OHCHR reported that the report identifies multiple intertwined root causes and drivers of conflict, including the fight for control over natural resources, colonialism in its historical legacy and current forms, inequalities, political exclusion, corruption and human rights violations.

A Road Map to a Peace Economy

The expert described a road map with foundational, preventive, institutional and deterrent components, according to OHCHR. He stated that "Peace is possible and is the best guarantee for national security," and that "Sustaining peace is also far less expensive than funding war economies."

Statements During the Interactive Dialogue

Zamir Akram, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on the Right to Development, stated that "it is high time to make the right to development a reality for all and move from a declaration to a legally binding covenant." He reported that budget constraints had reduced the Working Group's meeting time to four days. Juana María Ibáñez Rivas, Chair of the Expert Mechanism, also called for early adoption of the proposed covenant.

In the dialogue on the Human Rights Council report, Estonia, speaking for the Nordic Baltic countries, warned that cuts to mandated activities "undermine the credibility and the effectiveness of the human rights system." Uruguay stated that underfunding undermines the system's ability to monitor situations and protect victims. Nigeria supported reducing duplication between Geneva and New York while cautioning against diminishing attention to Global South priorities.

China warned against using human rights as a pretext for interference. Venezuela and Cuba opposed country specific mandates established without the consent of the State concerned, according to UN Meetings Coverage.

Recommendations

According to OHCHR, the Special Rapporteur stated that "States must invest in dignified life for all, reduce inequalities, address the political economy of conflicts, promote human rights-based good governance, build multilateralism and a culture of peace, reinvigorate disarmament, strengthen early warning systems and preventive diplomacy, focus on collective security, reform the Security Council and strengthen accountability for international crimes."

The Expert Mechanism recommended that artificial intelligence governance be grounded in international human rights law, including mandatory human rights and algorithmic impact assessments in national AI strategies, according to UN Meetings Coverage.

Relevant International Standards

The Declaration on the Right to Development (General Assembly Resolution 41/128, 1986) recognises development as an inalienable human right. Article 1 of the Charter of the United Nations sets out the maintenance of international peace and security and international cooperation in solving economic and social problems as purposes of the Organization. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights set out the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights, including heightened due diligence in conflict affected areas.

Taskforce Note

The Global HR Taskforce will continue to monitor General Assembly consideration of the draft covenant on the right to development and State responses to the Special Rapporteur's road map. Sources: OHCHR press release, "States and companies should move away from funding war economies to investing in a peace economy: UN expert," 30 October 2026; UN Meetings Coverage, Third Committee, GA/SHC/4454, 30 October 2026.