UN General Assembly adopts important resolutions on the right to development and on Human rights and extreme poverty

In front of the endurance of extreme poverty in all countries of the world, regardless of their economic, social and cultural situation, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its 59 th session adopted two resolutions, one on human rights and extreme poverty and another on the right to development.

In its resolution 59/186 on human rights and extreme poverty the UNGA once again reaffirms the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights instruments adopted by the UN as well as the, resolutions and declarations to eradicate poverty. It welcomes the efforts of the United Nations System in incorporating the Millennium Declaration and the internationally agreed development goals into their work. It also emphasizes that extreme poverty is a major issue to be addressed by Governments, civil society and the United Nations System and in this context reaffirms that political commitment is a prerequisite for the eradication of poverty.

Closely linked to the resolution on human rights and extreme poverty is resolution 59/185 on the right to development in which the UNGA underlines the fact that the international community is far from meeting the target set in the Millennium Declaration of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015. This resolution urges developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts towards meeting the targets of 0.7 percent of their GNP for official development assistance to developing countries.

To read the rest of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly during the 59 th session please click here.