In his address to the SDG Summit held in New York in September 2023, the United Nations Secretary-General highlighted the fundamental role of human rights in achieving the SDGs. According to him, the SDGs “carry the hopes, dreams, rights and expectations of people around the world”. 1 The Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015, offers States “an ideal platform to demonstrate their commitment to all human rights”2 and encompasses the three pillars of sustainability, namely economic, social and environmental.
In the case of Africa, its economy has experienced considerable growth in recent years. However, this growth has not been able to bring about the socio-economic changes and transformations that would be expected. The continent remains underdeveloped, characterised by rampant poverty, corruption, lack of basic services, poor education, lack of housing, health care and infrastructure. Political instability and constitutional and military coups have contributed to transforming the rule of law into an instrument of socio-political and economic repression of the masses. The issue of (sustainable) development is real, since the equitable distribution of resources and the benefits of development and the improvement of the living conditions of each citizen remain the top priority. With one third of its population undernourished and millions of people without access to clean water, electricity, education, health care and infrastructure, Africa currently finds itself at the bottom of most major development indices. It is suggested that the full enjoyment of all human rights will only be possible in the context of global progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and Targets, including the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions worldwide and especially in countries of the Global South, where these problems urgently require solutions.
This merges with the right to development that stands at the intersection of critical global concerns including sustainability, human rights, and law. It therefore becomes increasingly imperative to explore how development processes can be steered towards sustainability while upholding human rights and adhering to the rule of law. It is vital to harness the synergies between the right to development, other human rights, sustainable development and the rule of law in a bid to address the core issue.
In this context, the Centre for Human Rights at the University of the Free State, in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Dayton, USA, the Autonomous University of Lisbon, Portugal, the Department of Law and Political Science at the University of Siena, Italy and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights present the seventh International Conference on the Right to Development, under the theme Development, Sustainability, Law and Human Rights. This conference, which will take place at the Autonomous University of Lisbon, Portugal, from 6 to 8 November 2024, aims to delve deeper into these pressing issues and achieve the following main objectives:
– Promote interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration on the right to development and its implications for development, sustainability, law and all human rights.
– Explore innovative approaches to the right to development that prioritize sustainability, fair redistribution of resources and benefits of development, and compliance with the rule of law.
– Examine the place of law in the promotion and realization of the right to development at local, national, regional and international levels.
– Identify challenges, opportunities, lessons learned and best practices in promoting the right to development agenda in different contexts.
The conference will bring together academics and researchers, legal scholars and practitioners, policymakers and government officials, activists and representatives of civil society organisations and NGOs, community leaders, students and young professionals interested in (sustainable) development issues from critical, interdisciplinary and contextually engaged perspectives. Contributions focusing on the following sub-themes or any related topics are welcome:
– Right to Development and the Sustainable Development Goals;
– Human Rights, Law and Sustainable Development;
– Economic development, social and global justice;
– Right to development, all human rights and the rule of law;
– Right to development and inclusive, fair and equitable development;
– Access to justice and the rule of law in development processes;
• Right to Development, Self-Determination and Sovereignty over Natural Resources;
• The Sustainable Development goals, Human Rights and the Rule of Law
The three-day conference will follow a hybrid format and is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, November 6, to Friday, November 8, 2024, with opportunities for individual and/or group presentations organized into panels.
The conference will feature keynote speeches by renowned experts, panel discussions on thematic areas and networking sessions.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic exchanges, share their research and experiences, and establish collaborations, partnerships and networks for future action. Submissions that demonstrate originality and relevance will be considered for an edited volume or a special issue to be published in an accredited, peer-reviewed journal.
Individual or group presentations: Please submit a short abstract of no more than 300 words and a brief CV/bio (150 words) to Gerard Kamga at kamdemkamgage@ufs.ac.za by 16 August 2024.
Notification of accepted abstracts and panels for the Conference: September 1, 2024.
Conference in hybrid format (online and in-person): November 6, 7 and 8, 2024.
Submission of selected full papers for double-blind peer review: December 23, 2024.
