A/HRC/7/58 page 13 41. Poverty is among the gravest human rights challenges faced by the world today. Human rights violations can cause and deepen poverty, and those living in poverty are, in turn, among the most vulnerable to violations of their economic, social and cultural rights. In the biennium 2006-2007, OHCHR made an assessment to identify how OHCHR could add value to the work of the United Nations system in addressing poverty from a human rights perspective. Looking at multidimensional poverty and the Millennium Development Goals from such a perspective provides insights for direct analysis of its root causes, focusing on intersecting axes of discrimination affecting those who are most marginalized. Civil and political rights should be central pillars of poverty reduction strategies, as must the legally binding obligations associated with economic, social and cultural rights. On 28 and 30 March 2007, OHCHR organized a poverty review meeting with field colleagues and invited experts to discuss and identify strategic country engagement entry points for OHCHR when addressing issues connected with poverty and human rights. Three field assessment mission reports (Guatemala, Liberia and Nepal) were reviewed during the meeting, led by a team of experts in development economics, human rights and conflict. Follow-up is particularly active in the case of Liberia. 42. Special attention has been paid to the issue of women and economic, social and cultural rights. In 2007, OHCHR conducted research and prepared several documents: a legal position paper as to the use of temporary special measures in relation to the provision of social and economic rights in post-conflict States, in order to ensure access for those made vulnerable by the conflict, in particular victims of sexual violence; a comprehensive survey on laws that discriminate against women, including their economic, social and cultural rights; a paper to be used as an annex to the reports of the special rapporteurs on violence against women and housing, making the link between the two sets of rights and State responsibility in this regard. 43. Economic, social and cultural rights are inextricably linked with the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its impact on individuals and communities around the world, where a lack of respect for all human rights fuels the spread and exacerbates the impact of the disease; at the same time, HIV/AIDS undermines progress in the realization of human rights. This link is apparent in the disproportionate incidence and spread of the disease among marginalized groups, women, children and young adults. In 2007, a handbook on HIV and national human rights institutions was completed and launched at the eighth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific from 19 to 23 August, in Sri Lanka. On that occasion, OHCHR, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) co-hosted a satellite event entitled “Unblocking the barriers to universal access: the role of national human rights institutions”, which sought to involve national institutions in the response to HIV/AIDS and to promote accountability. 44. To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March 2008, OHCHR organized a high-level panel discussion in Geneva entitled “Racism and discrimination: obstacles of development”, at which emphasis was put on, among other themes, the effect of racism on economic growth. It was observed during the discussions that people who were victims of discrimination, including racial discrimination, were marginalized in their societies and denied equal opportunities to social and other goods, facilities and services affecting their full potential to contribute to economic growth. It was also observed that economic growth was unachievable without good governance, which itself was unrealizable without broad participation by all communities and groups without discrimination.