- 31 -
10.
The importance of providing the necessary resources to existing mechanisms within
the inter-American system to enable effective action in the fight against poverty and the need to
assess any new initiatives, which may be complementary to our efforts.2/
11.
That, in fighting poverty, inequity, and social exclusion, we will place priority on
eradicating hunger, accessing adequate food and potable water, and ensuring access for all to basic
social services, with special attention to quality education and the health care safety net.
12.
We declare that access and the practical application of the different advances in
science and technology and innovation are keys to the reduction of poverty and the improvement in
standard of living.
13.
Our commitment to the promotion of dignified, productive and decent labour, and the
improvement of labour conditions, the creation of job opportunities, and the elevation of the
qualifications of workers.
14.
The importance of the Inter-American Committee on Social Development for the
formulation of policies related to social matters and the strengthening of existing instruments and
cooperation initiatives to fight poverty, social exclusion and inequity, as well as the strengthening of
the Inter-American Program to Combat Poverty and Discrimination. We encourage the Committee to
celebrate a meeting on 2004; and we entrust the Unit of Social Development and Education to support
the activities of the Committee.
15.
Our interest in having the Inter-American Council for Integral Development evaluate
the advisability of periodic meetings of the ministers and high government authorities responsible for
social development policies and plans with the objective of outlining concrete joint actions, assess
funding needs, and share expertise.
16.
The need to deepen the commitments undertaken in the OAS Charter, the InterAmerican Democratic Charter and other international commitments on social matters in relation to
the advancement and observance of economic, social, and cultural rights. Accordingly, we propose
that the Permanent Council and the Inter-American Council for Integral Development take up this
matter, and explore the possibility of having and instrument and mechanisms that respond to this end.
17.
We express our commitment to seeing that CIDI, as the hemispheric political forum
for dialogue in combating poverty, contribute to following up on, evaluating, and supervising the
Eight Development Objectives established in the Millennium Declaration for the year 2015.
18.
We urge this declaration to be examined by the Inter-American Committee on
Integral Development and the Permanent Council for the actions that these bodies may determine.
2.
The Venezuelan Delegation presented a proposal for the creation of a Humanitarian International
Fund, to finance social development programs.