Noting the severity of poverty, particularly in developing countries, the eradication
of poverty is one
of the fundamental goals of the international community and the entire United Nations system, as
reflected in commitment 2 of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development,7 and is
essential for sustainable development. Poverty eradication is thus an overriding theme of
sustainable development for the coming years. The enormity and complexity of the poverty issue
could very well endanger the social fabric, undermine economic development and the environment,
and threaten political stability in many countries. To achieve poverty eradication, efforts of individual
Governments and international cooperation and assistance should be brought together in a
complementary way. Eradication of poverty depends on the full integration of people living in poverty
into economic, social and political life. The empowerment of women is a critical factor for the
eradication of poverty. Policies that promote such integration to combat poverty, in particular
policies for providing basic social services and broader socio-economic development, are effective
as well since enhancing the productive capacity of poor people increases both their well-being and
that of their communities and societies, and facilitates their participation in resource conservation
and environmental protection. The provision of basic social services and food security in an
equitable way is a necessary condition for such integration and empowerment. The 20/20 initiative
as referred to in the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development8 is, among
other things, a useful means for such integration. However, the five years since the Rio Conference
have witnessed an increase in the number of people living in absolute poverty, particularly in
developing countries. In this context, there is an urgent need for the timely and full implementation
of all the relevant commitments, agreements and targets already agreed upon since the Rio
Conference by the international community, including the United Nations system and international
financial institutions. Full implementation of the Programme of Action of the World Summit for
Social Development is essential. Priority actions include:
(a) Improving access
to sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurial opportunities and productive
resources, including land, water, credit, technical and administrative training, and
appropriate technology, with particular efforts to broaden the human and social capital basis
of societies to reach the rural poor and the urban informal sector;
(b) Providing universal
access to basic social services, including basic education, health
care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation;
(c) Progressively
developing, in accordance with the financial and administrative capacities
of each society, social protection systems to support those who cannot support
themselves, either temporarily or permanently; the aim of social integration is to create a
"society for all";
(d) Empowering people
living in poverty and their organizations by involving them fully in the
formulation, implementation and evaluation of strategies and programmes for poverty
eradication and community development and by ensuring dial these programmes reflect
their priorities;
(e) Addressing the
disproportionate impact of poverty on women, in particular by removing
legislative, policy, administrative and customary barriers to women's equal access to
productive resources and services, including access to and control over land and other
forms of property, credit, including micro- credit, inheritance, education, information, health
care and technology. In this regard, full implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action9 is
essential;
(f) Interested donors
and recipients working together to allocate increased shares of ODA to
poverty eradication. The 20/20 initiative is an important principle in this respect, as it is
based on a mutual commitment among donors and recipients to increase resources
allocated to basic social services;
(g)Intensifying
international cooperation to support measures being taken in developing
countries to eradicate poverty, to provide basic social protection and services, and to
approach poverty eradication efforts in an integral and multidimensional manner.
