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COMBATING POVERTY

Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development Nitin Desai reported on the preparations for the World Summit for Social Development, which will be held from 6-12 March 1995 in Copenhagen. The Social Summit is addressing the issues of poverty, employment and social integration. The next PrepCom will take place in New York from 16-27 January 1995. With regard to poverty, which is to be considered by the CSD at its third session, the dominant theme in Agenda 21 is the need to integrate poverty with aspects of environmental protection. For example, rangeland management programmes should contain an element on poverty reduction. Focus should also be on increasing individual capacity building, changing institutions to empower the poor, expanding opportunities in rural and urban areas, and fulfilling basic needs.