A/HRC/10/31 page 12 G. Economic, social and cultural rights in the light of the food, energy and financial crises 46. In 2008, the impact on all human rights of the food and energy crisis earlier in the year, followed then by the financial crisis, was felt globally, but most particularly by those individuals and groups in society who were already marginalized and discriminated against. Direct negative effects include the loss of employment, limited access to credit for productive activities, and the weakening of social security systems and others social safety-net mechanisms, further undermining the capacity of marginalized groups to cope with rising food prices. During the year, OHCHR engaged actively and systematically in international discussions in the response to the food crisis, including by supporting the special session of the Council, on 22 May 2008, my predecessor’s participation in the High-Level Conference on World Food Security of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, held in Rome from 3 to 5 June 2008, and through substantive contributions to the Secretary-General’s High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis. Joint contributions were made to the Task Force with the Special Rapporteur on the right to food to develop a comprehensive framework for action as a common strategy for the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions in response to the crisis. 47. OHCHR also developed guidance on human rights and the food crisis for field presences, and support was extended to national responses to the negative impact of the food crisis. 48. On 10 December 2008, International Human Rights Day, the General Assembly closed a long-standing gap in the equal treatment and indivisibility of all civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights by adopting the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. I look forward to the speedy entry into force of this important instrument for individual redress. H. Climate change 49. In response to the Council’s call in its resolution 7/23 to study the relationship between human rights and climate change, OHCHR undertook an extensive consultative process, including initiating institutional links with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) towards the preparation of an analytical report (A/HRC/10/61) looking at the human rights dimensions of climate change, to be presented to the Council at its tenth session. I also participated in a highlevel planning meetings organized on this topic by the Secretary-General. 50. Inside countries, existing vulnerabilities are exacerbated by the effects of climate change, the effects of which on human rights are determined by non-climatic factors, including discrimination and unequal power relationships. The application of a human rights approach in preventing and responding to the effects of climate change serves to empower individuals and groups, who should be perceived as active agents of change and not as passive victims. I. Right to development 51. OHCHR has continued to promote the right to development by providing substantive support for human rights mechanisms, including the high-level task force on the implementation