More weapons, less peace? Roadmap for a peace economy: Public Lecture with Professor Surya Deva, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development

The RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRIGHT) and the RMIT Centre for International Development (CID) are pleased to host the public lecture: More weapons, less peace? Roadmap for a peace economy by the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, Professor Surya Deva, Director of the B&HR Access to Justice Lab and the Environmental Law Research Centre at Macquarie University.

The Uppsala Conflict Data Program recorded the highest number of state-based conflicts in 2025 since the Second World War. This is so despite the world military expenditure rising to about USD2.9 trillion in 2025. What explains this? Who is benefitting from these conflicts? How to achieve peace and security without consuming the resources that should be utilised to realise human rights and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?

In this public lecture, Prof Deva will draw on his 2026 report to be tabled at the UN General Assembly (“Peace for development”) and make a case why states and companies should move away from funding war economies. By building on various aspects of the right to development, he will outline four interrelated components – foundational, preventive, institutional and deterrent – of a roadmap for a peace economy.

The lecture will be followed by Q&A.

All attendees are invited to join Prof. Deva, and leaders of BHRIGHT and CID for an informal drinks reception immediately following the lecture.

Location: Storey Hall Lecture Theatre, Level 1, Building 16 at 348 Swanston St​, RMIT Melbourne City Campus​​

Date: Thursday 1st October 2026

Time: 5:30-7:00pm

(Doors open: 5:15pm)

This is a free event, but registration is essential.

About our speaker:

Professor Surya Deva is the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development. He is also a Professor at the Macquarie Law School and Director of the Environmental Law Research Centre and the B&HR Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie University. Deva is an internationally recognised scholar in the field of business and human rights. He served on the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights (2016-22) and was one of the founding Editors-in-Chief of the Business and Human Rights Journal. Deva also researches in the areas of comparative constitutional law, international human rights law, sustainable development, climate change and gender equality. Two of his UN reports were cited by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in its advisory opinion on climate emergency and human rights.