The eighth session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development will take place in Palais des Nations, in Geneva, from Monday, 30^th October to Wednesday, 1^st November 2023, 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm Central European Time (CET).

** We start each day at 10am **

At this session, the Expert Mechanism will consider the following:

1. Opening of the session:
   Remarks by the Human Rights Council Vice President, H.E. Ms. Maira M. Macdonal Alvarez, and the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Nada Al-Nashif
2. Adoption of the agenda and programme of work.
3. General debate.
4. Coordination meetings with other United Nations mechanisms on the right to development.
5. Implementation of the mandate and programme of work:
   1. Focused thematic discussions and interactive dialogue:
      • Responsibilities and Climate Justice (Concept Note / Flyer), a discussion led by Ms. Isabelle Durant
        Speakers:
        • H.E. Mr. Matthew Anthony Wilson, Permanent Representative of Barbados
        • Mr. Philippe Hensmans, Amnesty International Belgium
        • Ms. Alexandra Gavilano, Climate Justice Activist, Peru and Switzerland
        • Ms. Vanessa Nakate, Climate Activist (video-message)
      • Access to Technology and the Right to Development (Concept Note / Flyer), a discussion led by Mr. Bonny Ibhawoh
        Speakers:
        • Ms. Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur Right to Education 
        • Ms. Minerva Rivas Velarde, University of Geneva
        • Ms. Elizabeth Nyamwange, Youth representative
      • Women’s participation in Development. Promoting gender equality: good practices, opportunities, and challenges (Concept Note / Flyer), a discussion led by Ms. Liliana Valiña
        Speakers:
        • H.E. Mr. Christian Guillermet Fernández, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica
        • Dr. Brenda Akia, CEDAW Expert
        • Ms. Andra Nicolescu, GQUAL campaign
        • Ms. Carolyn Handschin-Moser, NGO Committee on the Status of Women
      • The UN system and opportunities for mainstreaming and promoting the RTD (Concept Note / Flyer), a discussion led by Mr. Mihir Kanade
        Speakers:
        • Ms. Agi Veres, Director, UNDP Geneva
        • Ms. Adriana Quiñones, Director UN-Women Geneva
        • Mr. Richard Kozul-Wright, Director UNCTAD
        • Mr. Ayuush Bat-Erdene, TESPRDD OHCHR
   2. EMRTD studies: a forum to collect suggestions on current and future studies (Concept Note)
6. Conclusion of the session.

Participation is possible in the public meetings where simultaneous interpretation in the six official languages will be made available.

States, United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes, intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations and mechanisms in the field of human rights, national human rights institutions and other relevant national bodies, academics and experts on development issues, and non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council are allowed to ask for the floor and intervene, in that order.

All participants are required to register using this registration form. Delegations are kindly reminded to submit copies of their statements to [email protected] prior to delivery.

List of speakers:
To register as a speaker for the General Debate or any thematic discussions, please send an email to [email protected]. You can also register in person with the secretariat close to the podium on the right.   

Time limits:
General Debate: 10 minutes for group statements, 7 minutes for national statements, and 7 minutes for statements by IGOs, the UN, and other stakeholders.
Interactive thematic discussions: 3 minutes for all participants from the floor. Participants may take the floor more than once if time allows.

Documentation

• Provisional agenda
• Programme of work
• Concept Note for the thematic discussion Responsibilities and Climate Justice
• Concept Note for the thematic discussion Access to Technology and the Right to Development
• Concept Note for the thematic discussion Women’s participation in Development. Promoting Gender Equality: good practices, opportunities, and challenges
• Concept Note for the thematic discussion The UN system and opportunities for mainstreaming and promoting the RTD
• Concept Note for EMRTD - Discussion on upcoming studies

Statements

• Opening statement by Ambassador Mariela Macdonal, Vice-President of the Human Rights Council (Spanish)
• Opening statement by Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Nada Al-Nashif
• The Eighth Session of the EMRTD Concluding remarks by the Chair, Liliana Valiña 
  English | Español

Videos

• First meeting, Monday 30th October 10h – 13h (Opening of the Session / Adoption PoW /General Debate)
• Second meeting, Monday 30th October 15h – 18h (Focused thematic discussions and interactive dialogue)
• Third meeting, Tuesday 31^st October 10h – 13h, (Focused thematic discussions and interactive dialogue)
• Fourth meeting, Tuesday 31st October 15h – 18h (Coordination meeting and Consideration of thematic studies)
• Sixth meeting, Wednesday 1^st November 15h – 18h (Focused thematic discussions and interactive dialogue and Conclusion of the Session)