Implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development and of the twenty-fourth special session of the General Assembly A/RES/74/122 of the General Assembly on the New Partnership for Africa ’s Development 21 and regional initiatives, such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture D evelopment Programme; 8. Stresses that the benefits of economic growth should be inclusive and distributed more equitably and that, in order to close the gap of inequality and avoid any further deepening of inequality, comprehensive social policies and pr ogrammes, including appropriate social transfer and job creation programmes and social protection systems, are needed; 9. Reaffirms that social integration policies should seek to reduce inequalities, promote access to basic social services, quality education for all and health care, eliminate discrimination, increase the participation and integration of social groups, particularly young people, older persons and persons with disabilities, noting the role of sports in this regard, and address the challenge s posed to social development by globalization and market-driven reforms in order for all people in all countries to benefit from globalization; 10. Stresses that an enabling environment is a critical precondition for achieving equity and social development and that, while economic growth is essential, entrenched inequality and marginalization are an obstacle to the broad -based and sustained growth required for sustainable, inclusive and people -centred development, and recognizes the need to balance and ensure complementarity between measures to achieve growth and measures to achieve economic and social equity and inclusion in order for there to be an impact on overall poverty levels; 11. Acknowledges that investment in human capital and social protection has been proven to be effective in reducing poverty and inequality, and invites Member States to mobilize innovative sources of financing, including through public -private partnerships, to secure adequate levels of social expenditure necessary for expandin g coverage towards universal access to health education, innovation, new technologies and basic social protection and to address the issues of illicit financial flows and corruption; 12. Stresses that international trade and stable financial systems can be effective tools to create favourable conditions for the development of all countries and that trade barriers and some trading practices continue to have negative effects on employment growth, particularly in developing countries, that good governance and the rule of law at the national and international levels and the need to promote respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are essential for sustained economic growth, sustainable development, the reduction of inequalities, the eradication of poverty, hunger and malnutrition and for addressing the most pressing social needs of people living in poverty, and in this regard also stresses the importance of economic, social and cultural rights and the importance of the principles of non-discrimination, inclusivity and meaningful participation for the implementation of the outcome of the World Summit for Social Development; 13. Acknowledges that inequalities persist within and among countries, posing significant challenges to social cohesion, reaffirms that the eradication of poverty, the promotion of prosperity, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and the reduction of inequality within and among countries are fundamental to achieving sustainable development for all, and that this requires collective and transformative efforts to leave no one behind and put the furthest behind first, and adapt institutions and policies to take into account the multidimensional nature of __________________ 21 19-22042 A/57/304, annex. 7/16