E/2021/25 E/CN.9/2021/6 Acknowledging the importance of achieving sustainable patterns of consumption and production and thereby easing pressure on ecosystems, and recognizing the fundamental role of sustainable food systems that promote food security and nutrition for the world’s growing population and contribute to poverty alleviation, hunger eradication and human health, Emphasizing the need to eradicate hunger and prevent all forms of malnutrition worldwide, particularly undernourishment, stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight in children under 5 years of age and anaemia in women of reproductive age and adolescent girls, and in infants and young children, among other micronutrient deficiencies, as well as to address the rise in undernourishment, reverse the rising trends in overweight and obesity and reduce the burden of diet -related non-communicable diseases in all age groups, Expressing deep concern that preliminary estimates indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic may have added an additional 83 million to 132 million people worldwide in 2020 to the ranks of the hungry, Recognizing the crucial contributions of rural women to local and national economies and to food production and to achieving food security and improved nutrition, and expressing deep concern that, while women contribute more than 50 per cent of the food produced worldwide, they account for 70 per cent of the world’s hungry, and that women and girls are disproportionately affected by hunger, food insecurity and poverty, in part as a result of gender inequality and discrimination, Recognizing also that poverty in all its forms and dimensions, financial and economic crises, inequalities, including gender inequality, conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, disease outbreaks and pest infestations, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, deforestation, desertification, land degradation, droughts and floods, water scarcity and the adverse effects of climate change, including more frequent and extreme weather events and environmental degradation, as well as energy insecurity and unplanned and rapid urbanization are among the key factors contributing to a reversal in fighting global hunger, making the prospect of ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 more difficult, Acknowledging the need to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen good practices on assets return and recovery as one of the sources of financing for development with a view to reducing hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture, Deeply concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to its severe disruptions to societies, economies, employment, education, health systems, global trade, supply chains and travel, and agricultural, industrial and commercial systems, as well as its significant impact on food prices, is exacerbating vulnerabilities and inequalities and having a devastating impact on sustainable development and humanitarian needs, including on poverty eradication, livelihoods, ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition, gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, eliminating sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic violence and violence in digital contexts, food security and nutrition, access to health-care services, including sexual and reproductive health-care services, safe and affordable drinking water and adequate and equitable sanitation, and environmentally sound waste management, especially for the poorest, most vulnerable and those furthest behind, in particular in developing countries, including countries in special situations and those facing specific challenges, which imposes greater challenges and demands extra efforts to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals, including eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions by 2030, ending hunger and achieving food security and improved nutrition for all, 14/32 21-06093