Timeline of the Right to Development Discourse

1944
Philadelphia Declaration (Article 2): All human beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex, have the right to pursue both their material well being and their spiritual freedom in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity.

1945
UN Charter (Article 55): …UN shall promote higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development…and…universal respect for…human rights…

1948
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 22): Everyone…is entitled to realization…of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his free personality…

1968
Proclamation of Tehran: The enjoyment of economic and social rights is inherently linked with any meaningful enjoyment of civil and political rights and… there is a profound interconnection between the realization of human rights and economic development.

1972
Senegalese jurist Keba M' Baye coins the term Right to Development in his inaugural lecture to the International Institute of Human Rights.

1979
Resolution 4 (XXXV) of the Commission on Human Rights gives official recognition to the Right to Development.

1986
Declaration on the Right to Development adopted.

1993
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action reaffirms the Right to Development as a universal and inalienable human right.