Human Rights Council, Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, 14th sessionIN-PERSON

The fourteenth session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development will take place from 26 to 28 October 2026 in the Council Chamber (Building C), Palais des Nations, Geneva. The session will mark the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128 of 4 December 1986.

The session will feature a general debate, a coordination meeting with other United Nations mechanisms on the right to development, the consideration of two thematic studies, and three focused thematic discussions.

Monday, 26 October
10:00–13:00  Opening of the session; adoption of the agenda and programme of work; general debate; coordination meeting with other United Nations mechanisms on the right to development*
15:00–16:30  Peace and security and the right to development (updated thematic study), presented by Ms. Ibáñez Rivas

Tuesday, 27 October
10:00–11:30  Role of businesses in realizing the right to development in the age of mandatory human rights due diligence, presented by Mr. Liang
11:30–13:00  Access to food, food security, inequalities and the right to development, presented by Ms. Biholar
15:00–17:00  Illicit financial flows and the right to development (draft study), presented by Mr. Djoyou Kamga

Wednesday, 28 October
10:00–11:30  Indigenous peoples and the right to development, presented by Mr. Keane
15:45–16:30  Conclusion of the session: adoption of conclusions and recommendations

* If time does not allow on Monday, the coordination meeting will be held on Wednesday, 28 October, from 15:00 to 15:45.

All times are Central European Time (CET). Public meetings will be webcast live on UN Web TV, with interpretation in the six official languages of the United Nations. All participants are kindly requested to register through Indico. Registration is required to obtain an access badge for participants who do not hold a valid UN grounds pass.

The Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development is a subsidiary body of the Human Rights Council composed of five independent experts. It provides the Council with thematic expertise on the right to development and promotes its implementation worldwide.