The UN human rights system must be assured both the political support of the membership and increased regular budget financing if it is to do the job we need it to do. The growth of intrastate conflicts caused by differences of religion, language, ethnicity or race has reinforced the need to protect marginalized groups. To do so, both government and civil society groups must have ready access to current information about the human rights situation around the world. Of those at risk from conflict, none are more so than children. Respect for civil and political rights is necessary, but not sufficient, to create the conditions for stable societies.
Stability also requires economic and social well-being.
Regrettably, statistics show that countries with the lowest incomes are much more likely to be involved in violent conflict than others. A quarter of the world's people live in severe poverty. More than 800 million face malnutrition. 180 million children under the age of 14 work as child labourers. Countries overburdened by debt are less likely to be developed and more likely to succumb to conflict.