Progress in revitalising our economy through our sweeping reforms has so far proven fruitful. As we bounced back from a minus 13.2 percent growth two years ago, this year we can expect a positive growth of 4 to 5 percent. This will undoubtedly enhance our capacity to improve the economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to food, shelter, education and health. We are confident that as we progress with our reforms in economic, social and political fields, we can advance progressively the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights of every citizen. Mr. Chairman, Extreme poverty today deprives some 1.3 billion people and threatens to deprive another 1.7 billion people in developing countries, from the full and effective enjoyment of all human rights.
Poverty is, therefore, the first and greatest cause of human rights violations in the world.
When the General Assembly, in February 1997, launched the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty 1997-2006, it stated that eradicating poverty is an ethical, social, political and economic imperative of humankind. It was anticipated that the developmenent bodies of the UN will play a key role in translating these normative decisions into practical programmes in support of national poverty eradication programmes. We noted the global target set out by the OECD of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015. A certain degree of optimism for achieving the 2015 goals was anticipated until 1998, expectation have recently become cautious due to the economic slowdown in many developing countries. East Asian countries that recently succeeded in reducing poverty are now experiencing its emergence along with hunger and the human suffering it brings.