A panel of global experts and policymakers on Wednesday discussed the urgent need to ensure equitable development for all during a side event of the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.

The side event, entitled "Promotion and Protection of the Right to Development," was co-hosted by the United Nations Association of China (UNA-China) and the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations at Geneva.

Representatives from the diplomatic corps in Geneva, UN organizations and Chinese civil society organizations emphasized that development is not only a right in itself but also a foundation for the enjoyment of all other human rights.

They raised concerns over persistent global inequalities, the failure of developed nations to meet international obligations, and the negative impact of geopolitical tensions and trade protectionism on the global development landscape.

In particular, participants criticized past unilateral trade practices for weaponizing tariffs and disrupting industrial progress in developing countries.

Such actions were described as infringements on these countries' right to development, posing serious setbacks to poverty reduction and the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, they noted.

The panelists underscored China's people-centered development approach, highlighting its efforts to ensure that all citizens are active participants, contributors and beneficiaries of the country's progress.

China's contribution to global development through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative was praised as a model for promoting shared prosperity across the Global South, they noted.

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary this year, participants called for a renewed commitment to the organization's founding purpose. They urged the international community to place the right to development at the heart of the global agenda and to practice genuine multilateralism.

Participants also encouraged the UNHRC mechanisms, especially the Working Group on the Right to Development and the Special Rapporteur, to enhance their engagement on development-related human rights issues.