UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/10/65 16 January 2009 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Tenth session Agenda item 5 HUMAN RIGHTS BODIES AND MECHANISMS REPORT OF THE 2008 SOCIAL FORUM (Geneva, 1-3 September 2008) Chairperson-Rapporteur: Mr. Mousa BURAYZAT (Jordan)* Summary The present report contains a summary of discussions and recommendations of the 2008 Social Forum, held in Geneva from 1 to 3 September 2008, in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 6/13. In that resolution, the Council decided to preserve the Social Forum as a vital space for dialogue between the representatives of Member States and civil society, including grass-roots organizations and intergovernmental organizations, on issues linked with the national and international environment needed for the promotion of the enjoyment of all human rights by all. Under the main themes of poverty and human rights and the social dimension of the globalization process, the Forum heard expert presentations and held interactive debates on the following topics and their relationship to poverty: the normative framework of human rights and extreme poverty; foreign debt; international trade policies; the role and responsibility of the State, civil society and transnational corporations in poverty eradication; international assistance and cooperation in poverty reduction and eradication; decent and favourable work conditions; good governance/corruption; access to affordable essential drugs and health care; climate change; and food security, the food crisis and the right to food. * Late submission. GE.09-10337 (E) 200109