HRC63 - Iceland EoV - A/HRC/63/L.1: The Right to Development

Human Rights Council – 63nd Session
Explanation of vote during adoption of draft resolution A/HRC/63/L.1
The Right to Development
Delivered by Iceland
5 October 2026

President,

Iceland reaffirms its support for development as an integral part of the human rights framework and its commitment to the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In addition to the important premise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind, the Vienna Declaration affirms that democracy, development and respect for human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and it remains the foundation of our approach.

It is on this same basis that we continue to seek a common understanding among States on development. Our concerns regarding specific references, including references to a legally binding instrument, have not yet been addressed in the text. We raise them now, not to detract from the purpose of the resolution, but to clarify the basis for our abstention.

Iceland's abstention is an expression of continued engagement, not of disengagement. We are grateful for the openness with which the core group, and Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, received our views. We hope that in future iterations of the draft resolution, the text may develop in a way that allows a broader group of delegations to join it.

For these reasons above, Iceland will abstain from the vote on draft resolution L.1.

I thank you.