A/HRC/4/8 page 9 extremely rare, the continuing spread of avian influenza may threaten the livelihoods of millions of poor livestock farmers and smallholders, and may hamper the regional and international trade in poultry. Globally, chickens and eggs are the most important sources of protein for the poor, particularly in developing countries. Thus the existence of avian influenza may threaten progress in the fight to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, the first of the Millennium Development Goals. 30. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 25, states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family. This right is also enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, article 12, while the Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 24, states that “States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health”. 31. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Article 12, paragraphs 1 and 2, states that all appropriate measures shall be taken to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, article 5, paragraph (e), sub-paragraph (iv) guarantees equality for everyone before the law in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, in particular the right to public health, medical care, social security and social services. Practical examples 32. The independent expert proposes that Member States give consideration to: (a) The need for international solidarity to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and avian influenza by extending assistance and cooperation to developing countries in all possible measure; (b) Working with the pharmaceutical industry and other partners to develop an effective and affordable vaccine against HIV, and to make HIV and related drugs more widely accessible in developing countries and to take similar action in the case of avian influenza; (c) Setting explicit targets for reducing infection rates, and guaranteeing access to preventive information and services for these diseases; (d) Urging every seriously affected country to have a timely national plan of action in (e) Undertaking to cut the rate of HIV infection in young people by 25 per cent. place; Agricultural pests 33. Disruption of the agricultural sector can cause social unrest. Disruption in the agricultural sector can cause food shortages, price rises for food, and unemployment, and pose a threat to progress in the fight against extreme poverty and hunger. All of these could, if severe enough, have a destabilizing effect on the social and political structures of a country. Many developing countries are vulnerable to disruption of the agricultural sector.