As 'the major challenge facing the world in the new millennium', the UN General Assembly, in its millennium session, will have poverty as the main subject, he said. Eradication of poverty cannot be brought about by charity, but needs first and foremost empowering the poor, focusing on women, and tapping their tremendous potential.
Women fall into poverty more easily and more frequently than men.
They constitute majority of the people living in poverty. Ending discrimination against women and girls and promoting gender equality were critical for poverty eradication. Productive employment, including self-employment, played a central role in poverty eradication. Access of the poor to land, capital and other productive resources must be improved. Hunger and malnutrition were the worst manifestations of poverty.