A/HRC/40/29 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 37/13, in which the Council requested the Secretary-General to prepare an annual report on the question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights, with a special focus on the role of economic, social and cultural rights in empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality. 2. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a transformative and integrated vision of sustainable development anchored in the indivisibility of all human rights – civil, cultural, economic, political and social, as well as the right to development. By pledging that “no one will be left behind” and committing to “reach the furthest behind first” (para. 4), Member States reaffirmed the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments, and the commitment of States to respect, protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability or other status, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations (para. 19). 3. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda are inspired by, and follow closely, many of the provisions of the core international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Goals related to poverty eradication, food and nutrition, healthy lives and well-being, quality education, water and sanitation for all, full and productive employment and decent work, and inclusive and safe human settlements are clearly linked to human rights enshrined under the Covenant. The attainment of other cross-cutting Sustainable Development Goals, which relate to the human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, participation and accountability and international cooperation, are also essential for creating the necessary conditions for the realization of all human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. 4. The thematic focus of the present report mirrors that of the high-level political forum on sustainable development in 2019 – “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. The objective of the report is to inform the preparation and deliberations of the high-level political forum, with a view to further strengthening the convergence between efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals and the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. II. Ensuring equality and inclusiveness A. Understanding inequality from a human rights perspective 5. Rising inequalities have become one of the defining issues of our time. During the past few decades, we have witnessed an extreme concentration of wealth and income in the hands of a few. The richest 1 per cent of the global population now control as much wealth as the other 99 per cent combined. According to Oxfam, 82 per cent of all of the growth in global wealth in 2017 went to the top 1 per cent, whereas the bottom 50 per cent of the population saw no increase at all.1 6. Such sharp increases in inequality within and among countries not only limit economic growth but often contribute to an increase of instability, discontent and grievances among their populations. There is evidence that many of the conflicts and instances of social unrest in recent years have been sparked by measures or policies that have led to increased inequalities and deterioration or violation of individuals’ economic, social and cultural rights, such as rises in food prices and unemployment, diminished living 1 Oxfam, “Reward work, not wealth”, Oxfam briefing paper – January 2018, p. 8. 3