Human rights and extreme poverty A/RES/79/178 Recognizing that social protection systems make a critical contribution to the realization of human rights for all, in particular for those who are in vulnerable or marginalized situations and are trapped in poverty and subject to discrimination, Recognizing also that persistent and growing inequalities within and among countries are a major challenge to poverty eradication, particularly affecting those who are living in extreme poverty and in vulnerable situations, Stressing the need to close digital divides, both between and within developed and developing countries, including the rural-urban, youth-older persons and gender digital divides, and to harness digital technologies for sustainable development and the promotion and protection of human rights, Stressing also the necessity of better understanding and addressing the multidimensional causes and consequences of extreme poverty, Reaffirming that, since the existence of widespread extreme poverty inhibits the full and effective enjoyment of all human rights and may, in some situations, constitute a threat to the right to life, its immediate alleviation and eventual eradication must remain a high priority for the international community, Stressing that respect for all human rights, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, is of crucial importance for all policies and programmes to fight extreme poverty, Underlining the priority and urgency given by Heads of State and Government to the eradication of extreme poverty, as expressed in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, Reaffirming that democracy, development and the full and effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that they contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty, 1. Reaffirms that extreme poverty, deep inequality and exclusion constitute a violation of human dignity and that urgent national and international action is therefore required to eliminate them; 2. Also reaffirms that it is essential for States to foster participation by the poorest people in the decision-making process in the societies in which they live, in the promotion of human rights and in efforts to combat extreme poverty and exclusion and that it is essential for people living in and affected by poverty and in situations of vulnerability to be empowered to organize themselves and to participate in all aspects of political, economic, social, cultural and civic life, in particular the planni ng and implementation of policies that affect them, thus enabling them to become genuine partners in development; 3. Emphasizes that extreme poverty is a major issue to be addressed by Governments, the United Nations system and international financial institutions, the private sector, including the corporate sector, civil society and community-based social organizations, and in this context reaffirms that political commitment is a prerequisite for the eradication of poverty; 4. Also emphasizes that all business enterprises, both transnational corporations and other business enterprises, have a responsibility to respect all human rights, and recognizes that proper regulation, including through national legislation, of transnational corporations and other business enterprises and their responsible operation can contribute to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of and respect for human rights and assist in channelling the benefits of business towards contributing to the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms; 24-24219 5/8