The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has shown admirable leadership in realising the right to development for all individuals and peoples in the region by adopting the Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development on 26 October 2025 at the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, said Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development. He issued the following statement:

“In today’s world characterised by growing economic inequalities, conflicts and the triple planetary crisis, the ASEAN Declaration affirms the importance of multilateralism to achieve inclusive and sustainable development," Surya said.

Under the Declaration, ASEAN States agree to undertake proactive measures to remove barriers to equitable access to education, healthcare, food, housing, transport, communications, utilities, digital technology, law enforcement, and employment. They also agree to pursue efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination and address inequalities, including by the fair distribution of income.

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"Peace is a precondition to development, while inclusive and sustainable development is essential for durable and lasting peace. The recognition of these fundamental linkages in the Declaration sends a powerful signal to countries in all world regions," she added.

The Declaration recognises human beings as active agents in the development process through their active, free and meaningful participation in the development process. To facilitate such participation, ASEAN would now be expected to create enabling conditions such as access to information, free press and civic space.