GENEVA (17 May 2022) - The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development Saad Alfarargi, will conduct an official visit to Albania from 23 May to 1 June 2022 to assess the country’s efforts to integrate the right to development into its domestic policies.

“I look forward to meeting Government representatives and other stakeholders who are working towards implementing sustainable development goals and promoting the realisation of the right to development,” Alfarargi said.

It will be the Special Rapporteur’s third country visit since his appointment by the UN Human Rights Council in 2017. During his visit to Albania, Alfarargi will examine how the government promotes and guarantees effective popular participation and accountability in the development process. The UN expert will also assess compliance with the right to development in the Albanian Government’s response and recovery action related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The right to development is focused on inclusiveness, promotion of equality and equitable sharing of the benefits of economic growth and development,” Alfarargi said. “The right to development also requires that development initiatives are sustainable and integrate environmental and climate-related concerns,” he said.

The expert said he was aiming to help the Government strengthen its legislation, policies and practices in accordance with the 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development.

Alfarargi will meet with public officials, international development actors and civil society representatives in Tirana and Elbasan during his visit.

The Special Rapporteur will present his preliminary observations during a press conference on 1 June 2022 at 2 PM local time at Rogner Hotel in Tirana. It will be strictly limited to journalists.

Alfarargi will present a report on his visit to the Human Rights Council in September 2022.