Chapter 5 | Page 189
and mutual trade6 need to be based on dialogue and transparency,7 a duty to
co-operate,8 and the principles of ‘sovereign equality, interdependence,
mutual interest and cooperation’.9 These instruments reflect recognition that
social development cannot be achieved without the collective commitment and
effort
of
the
international
community
and
therefore
constitute
acknowledgement that international assistance and co-operation are a vital
element in the achievement of these global goals.10 These principles also
emphasise that such a ‘duty’ on the States to provide international assistance
and co-operation ought to be commensurate with their capacities, resources
and influence,11 and that such co-operation and assistance must address the
requirements for harmonisation, transparency and coordination of the
activities and shared accountability.12 These characteristics will not only make
international assistance and co-operation more human rights-friendly, but also
more effective in bringing about the desired developmental outcomes.
From an economic perspective, the rationale for aid as a source of
development finance has its foundations in the two-gap model of Chenery and
Strout,13 which holds that low-income countries have low domestic savings for
investment in growth and insufficient foreign exchange earnings for capital
6
United Nations General Assembly, Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, UN Doc
A/CONF.157/23 (12 July 1993), [4].
7
Ibid.
8
United Nations General Assembly, Declaration on Principles of International Law
concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations, A/8082, 2625 (XXV), UN Doc A/RES/25/2625 (24 October
1970).
9
United Nations General Assembly, Declaration on the Right to Development, 41/128, 41st
sess, 97th plenary mtg, UN Doc A/RES/41/128 (4 December 1986).
10
Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World
Summit for Social Development, above n 5, [25].
11
Final draft of the guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights, submitted by the
Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda
Carmona, A/HRC/21/39, above n 1.
12
Ibid., [93].
13
H B Chenery and A M Strout, 'Foreign Assistance and Economic Development' (1966) 56
American Economic Review 679-733.
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