AG/RES. 1962 (XXXIII-O/03)

POVERTY, EQUITY, AND SOCIAL INCLUSION 

(Resolution adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 10, 2003) 

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 

HAVING SEEN resolutions CIDI/RES. 113 (VII-O/02) and AG/RES. 1854 (XXXII-O/02), “Poverty, Equity, and Social Inclusion,” and CIDI/RES. 130 (VIII-O/03), “High-Level Meeting on Poverty, Equity, and Social Inclusion”; 

CONSIDERING: 

That Article 2.g of the Charter of the Organization of American States establishes that one of the essential purposes of the Organization is to eradicate extreme poverty, which constitutes an obstacle to the full democratic development of the peoples of the Hemisphere; 

That the Declaration of Quebec City, adopted at the Third Summit of the Americas, states that no effort should be spared to free the citizens of the Americas from the dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty; 

That the Inter-American Democratic Charter reaffirms that “the fight against poverty, and especially the elimination of extreme poverty, is essential to the promotion and consolidation of democracy and constitutes a common and shared responsibility of the American states”; 

That the “Inter-American Forum on Poverty, Equity, and Social Inclusion” could not be held from November 20 to 22, 2002; 

That the Permanent Executive Committee of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CEPCIDI), at its LXXXVI Regular Meeting, held on November 14, 2002, accepted Venezuela’s offer to host that meeting during the first three months of 2003; and 

That CEPCIDI, at its LXXXIX Regular Meeting, decided that the High-Level Meeting on Poverty, Equity, and Social Inclusion would be held in Venezuela; that the agenda approved for the Forum (CEPCIDI/doc.508/02 rev. 1), would be used for the aforementioned High-Level Meeting, with the necessary revisions; and that the highest authorities in charge of combating poverty in the countries as well as experts on the subject would be invited to the High-Level Meeting to examine its main themes and suggest lines of action for the inter-American system, 

RESOLVES: 

1.         To reiterate that the fight against poverty is a priority and a constant concern of the member states and that the OAS should support their efforts to reduce poverty levels in the Hemisphere. 

2.         To renew the mandates contained in resolution AG/RES. 1854 (XXXII-O/02). 

3.         To note the decision of the Permanent Executive Committee of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CEPCIDI) that the High-Level Meeting on Poverty, Equity, and Social Inclusion would be held in Porlamar, Isla Margarita, Venezuela, from October 8 to 10, 2003. 

4.         To instruct the General Secretariat to provide, through the Unit for Social Development and Education and in coordination with the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI), technical and secretariat support for that meeting and for implementation of this resolution.