Respuesta de españa a la nota verbal de la oficina del alto comisionado de las naciones unidas para los derechos humanos sobre la contribución del desarrollo al disfrute de todos los derchos humanos

RESPUESTA DE ESPAÑA A LA NOTA VERBAL DE LA OFICINA DEL ALTO COMISIONADO DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS PARA LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS SOBRE LA CONTRIBUCIÓN DEL DESARROLLO AL DISFRUTE DE TODOS LOS DERCHOS HUMANOS
1. How, in the view of your Government, can development plans and programmes be used to promote and realize all human rights including the right to development for all? Please provide concrete examples of policies, action plans and any other best practices as regards, specifically, the contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights.

All the International treaties - and the later optional protocols - that have been endorsed by Spain in relation to human rights are fully supported in all the five Spanish Master Plans that have guided the Spanish Cooperation up to date. We also have several strategies such as the Peacebuilding Strategy and the Women and Peacebuilding Action Plan. We have other programmes such as the Strategy for Culture and Development and the work of the country’s Embassies and Overseas Cooperation Units (UCE) - especially the Cultural Centres.

We work with Country Partnership Frameworks (CPFs), and Strategic Association Agreements with multilateral development organizations and the AECID (Spanish Cooperation Agency for Development) Operative Programming. Strategic Partnership Frameworks (SPF) adopted with multilateral development organizations depict the first shift towards a results-oriented approach, the concentration of resources and the quest for signing increasingly selective and strategic agreements with key multilateral actors.


2. What, in the view of your Government, can be included in the report to explain the conceptual context and comprehensive interpretation of contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights?

The Spanish Government’s final goal is to contribute to human development, through poverty eradication which certainly helps the full exercises of fundamental human rights. Our aim is to consolidate democratic processes and the rule of law, help to reduce inequalities and vulnerability to extreme poverty and crises, while promoting economic opportunities for the poorest populations. To reach this goal, we will foster systems of social cohesion, focusing on basic social services, not forgetting to promote women’s rights and gender equality. Our Government has a long tradition in providing a quality response to humanitarian crises. In our partner countries our aim is to build a global citizenship committed to development, working towards guaranteeing the Rule of Law and Human Rights; helping other countries support reforms of the justice system that aims to strengthen the judiciary at the same time striving to make the justice system accessible to all citizens under equal conditions and to guarantee effective judicial protection and the right to a fair trial. Spain will promote accountability for the violation of international humanitarian law and of human rights.

3. What are, in the view of your Government, challenges or obstacles that countries face, or may face, in promoting and realizing all human rights including the right to development for all due to the lack of development?

The construction of peace and security, the promotion of development and the protection of human rights are issues that are strongly interrelated. It is extremely important to work in conflict prevention and the return and consolidation of the conditions for peace, security, justice and equity within the framework of international law in those countries where the situation due to a war or humanitarian crises has become difficult.

4. What would be your Government's conclusions and recommendations drawn from challenges and best practices of ensuring contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights for inclusion into the report of the Advisory Committee?

It is fundamental to engage as many countries as possible to manage an increasingly active role within the international community in fundamental issues related to development and human security.

5. Is there any other matter regarding the contribution of development to the enjoyment of all human rights that your Government would recommend for mentioning in the report of the Advisory Committee?


Development is, among other things, a question of social change. Using lessons learned from positive and negative experiences in a more effective manner actually has the potential to ameliorate one’s living conditions. Although the economic aspect is an important one, it is not the only factor in human development. The experience exchange that takes place often has deeper and longer lasting effects on development.