40 Years of the Declaration on the Right to Development in a Key Moment for Multilateralism: 2030 and Beyond The Baha’i International Community was pleased to participate in a High-level dialogue marking the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, where a range of policy-makers and other stakeholders explored how a broader understanding of development could strengthen multilateral cooperation. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Group of Advocates for the Right to Development, the United Nations University for Peace, and The Millennials Movement for organizing the event. We also thank Under-Secretary-General for Policy Guy Ryder, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development Surya Deva, and all the featured speakers for their thoughtful contributions to this important conversation. In reflections closing the event, Rachel Bayani, Principal Representative of the BIC, highlighted the importance of communities collectively shaping their own futures, including how they choose to develop. "Development is a daily exercise….It requires numerous spaces of reflection, where people come together to read their reality, where they build a common vision as to what the challenges are that need to be addressed, and where they together devise solutions," she said. As action is taken and decisions implemented, she continued, strategies and approaches can and must be regularly adjusted. “You need a process of action and reflection for a process of development to be meaningful in the long run… Initiatives need to be refined continuously. And the local population needs to lead that process.” #UNGA81 #RightToDevelopment #BuildingCapacity #Bahai @TmmMillennials @UPEACE @GuyRyder @ProfSuryaDeva @pkoundouri @juany_ibanez @RGARAVITO @UNSRdevelopment