Madam Chairperson,

I have the honour to speak  on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on  agenda item 58  entitled :Eradication of Poverty and other Development Issues, sub-items (a) Implementation of the First Decade for the Eradication of Poverty: (1997-2006), (b) Women in Development," and (c) Human Resources Development.

2. We thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive and useful reports contained in documents A/62/267, A/62/187 and A/62/308.

Madam Chair,

3. We live in a world of unprecedented opulence and remarkable deprivation- a world where poverty continues to be the state for the majority of developing countries.

4. The eradication of poverty is thus the greatest challenge of our time.

5. It is paradoxical that more than 800 million people go hungry every day in a world that has unparalleled wealth and food production capacity. Nearly 2.5 billion of the world's 6.3 billion people lack access to basic sanitation. One billion people lack access to safe drinking water.

6. Half the world - nearly three billion people - live on less than two dollars a day. People who escaped the absolute poverty category - less than $1 per day - have simply joined the less than $2 per day group. According to a World Bank report, if current trends continue, it is estimated that there will be over 800 million people living on under 1$ a day in 2015.

7. Although the world as a whole has made some progress to meet the poverty target, the progress has been uneven and slow. The number of people living in extreme poverty in many countries continues to increase, with women and children constituting the majority and the most affected groups, in particular in the least developed countries and sub-Saharan Africa. Most countries and regions will not achieve the first MDG by 2015 on our present trajectory. Poverty also continues to be a challenge in the middle income developing countries.

Madam Chair,

8. The first United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006) proclaimed by the General Assembly at its Fiftieth Session ended in 2006.The Decade followed the international year for the Eradication of Poverty in 1996. Both events were critical in creating necessary awareness for supporting a long-term sustained response at all levels to tackle the challenge of poverty. To reinforce the momentum generated by these events, and as a part of the broader objective of poverty eradication, the G-77 and China supports the proclamation of a Second Decade for the Eradication of Poverty from 2008-2017.

9. The mixed results of the   first Decade have   led to a better understanding of the deep- rooted systemic obstacles that countries face in their efforts to reduce poverty. The Official Development Assistance, which largely remained constant over the last decade has declined recently. Importantly, the ODA as rightly pointed out by the Secretary General in his Report, failed to align with national efforts to reduce poverty and remained limited to debt relief. Spending on core funding also declined while the imbalance between core and non-core kept growing. It has become evident that without adequate and predictable financial assistance from the international community, poverty related targets would not be achieved by countries that experience serious difficulties in reducing poverty.

Madam Chair,

10. Today, the world has the resources and the know-how to make poverty history. Let us join hands to build a genuine and truly enhanced and empowered global partnership for development to further our goals of eliminating poverty and achieving sustained economic growth and sustainable development. The United Nations can and must play a central role in this regard.

Madam Chair,

11. An increasing proportion of the poor, and in particular the working poor, is women. Women empowerment remains central for achieving MDGs as reflected in the Report of the Secretary General. MDG 1 on poverty eradication and MDG 3 on promoting gender equality and empowering women are inextricably linked. The World Bank's gender action plan "Gender equality as smart economics" highlights the fact that the increased participation of women in the labor force and increase in their earnings are deeply associated with poverty reduction and economic growth.

12. It is, therefore, essential not only to recognize the role of women in eradicating poverty and sustainable economic growth but also to empower women with equal rights with men and to provide them with full access to education, training, employment opportunities, technology economic and complete financial resources, in accordance with the Beijing Platform for Action adopted in 1995.

Madam Chair,

13. Increasing women's educational and training opportunities is central to enhancing this role in the context of national development endavours. Education of women decreases child mortality and improves the health of the family. It improves their chances for employment and therefore the welfare of the family and the society in general.

14. There is need to support and conduct qualitative and quantitative research on the impact and effectiveness of women in decision-making and their impact on development and poverty eradication at both national and international levels.

Madam Chair,

15. Human resources development is central to any development process. In this knowledge driven world, a good human resource is absolutely essential and indispensable to support the achievement of internationally agreed development goals including MDGs.

16. Science and Technology as well as technological knowledge and learning have become essential to empower people and expand their capabilities and opportunities for social and economic development.

17. Not surprisingly, therefore, access to technology has become a vital component of any viable development strategy. In fact, the restraints on access to technology, specially advanced technologies which could address critical development problems, are now a major manifestation of inequality between the developed and the developing countries.

18. Building on the decisions of the 2005 World Summit and the World Summit on Information Society, the restrictions on technology transfer and acquisition, need to be reviewed and revised. Incentives should be provided for research, including by the private sector, into the problems of the poor which presently attract only 10 percent of research and development expenditure.

19. In conclusion, let me stress once again that human resource and capacity building development in science and technology and easier access to latest technologies will certainly help developing countries achieve the internationally agreed development goals including MDGs.

I thank you