24 May 1989

15th plenary meeting

Women living in absolute poverty

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 43/195 of 20 December 1988 on international co-operation for the eradication of poverty in developing countries,

Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1988/47 of 27 May 1988 on extreme poverty,

Noting with great concern the information on the population living in poverty in developing countries and on women's participation in the labour force contained in the 1989 report on the world social situation,

Convinced that absolute poverty limits the advancement of women in the social, political and economic development of their countries,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to take into account, in the report prepared in accordance with General Assembly resolution 43/195, the impact of absolute poverty on women;

2. Draws the attention of the Commission for Social Development to the need to discuss in depth, at its thirty-second and subsequent sessions, the subject of absolute poverty and women, when considering reports of the Secretary-General concerning the world social situation;

3. Urges the Commission on the Status of Women to give due consideration to the subject of absolute poverty when considering its priority themes of equality, development and peace;

4. Appeals to all Member States to make efforts to overcome absolute poverty by increasing the level of integration of women in the economic and social development of their countries.