New York:Angola reiterated its dedication to inclusive, sustainable, participatory, and measurable development, emphasizing the centrality of people in public policies during the United Nations General Assembly session.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Marcy Lopes made this announcement in New York at a meeting on the Right to Development. This gathering took place alongside the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He highlighted the enduring relevance of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted 40 years ago, as a crucial framework for addressing contemporary challenges.
Lopes explained that the Right to Development has broadened the understanding of development far beyond economic growth, focusing instead on human-centered processes that prioritize dignity, participation, and equitable benefit distribution. This perspective has been instrumental in shaping the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, linking development with human rights, equality, and international collaboration.
For Angola, these principles are embedded in national policies, with the Constitution prioritizing well-being, inequality reduction, poverty eradication, and sustainable development. The National Development Plan 2023-2027 outlines these priorities through specific programs and measurable indicators. By the second quarter of 2026, 650 actions had been undertaken, meeting 71.48% of the planned priorities, with 400 indicators under ongoing monitoring.
Minister Lopes also addressed current challenges such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, food insecurity, climate change, and technological disparities. He emphasized the need for practical solutions, evidence-based policies, effective institutions, public participation, and robust monitoring systems. Investment in human capital, innovation, digital transformation, and partnerships are vital for mobilizing resources, technology, and expertise.
He stressed that achieving the Right to Development requires consensus-building and international cooperation, as no country can succeed in isolation. Effective partnerships, financial conditions, and access to technology must align with national priorities and enhance the capacities of developing countries. The international framework for the Right to Development acknowledges the importance of national policy reforms and removing development obstacles.
Lopes concluded by asserting the need to transform the Right to Development into tangible, measurable progress through consensus and partnerships that ensure inclusivity and shared advancement.
