A/HRC/45/39 inequality, by promoting social, economic and political inclusion for all, adopting social protection policies and progressively achieving greater equality. As for the relations among countries, those are covered under target 10.5, to improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions, target 10.6, to ensure enhanced representation of developing countries in decision-making, target 10. a, to implement the principle of special and differential treatment for them, in particular for least developed countries, and target 10. b, to encourage the increase of official development assistance to States, in accordance with their national plans and programmes. 38. As for the various aspects of development and the participation of developing countries, in some reports, the importance of regional cooperation was underscored, whereas in others, the need to rethink international cooperation for development so as to offer public global and regional goods was stressed. According to the annual report of UNDP for 2018, the 2030 Agenda demands a new approach to development, with more transformational solutions.9 39. National policies should include more targeted measures at the national level for promoting and developing inclusive societies, ensuring equal treatment and opportunities, reducing income inequality and eliminating discriminatory legislation, policies and practices. Such efforts should include the active participation of local government and consultations with all stakeholders, interested groups and the business and private sectors. At the international level, such efforts concern relations between all countries, developed and developing, and international economic and financial organizations, as well as United Nations agencies and regional bodies. B. Vulnerable groups and leaving no one behind 40. Another cross-cutting principle of the Sustainable Development Goals is the imperative of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls (Goal 5), as well as protecting children and young people. Under the Goals, States are required to reduce by half the proportion of women and children living in poverty, to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in the public and private spheres, to adopt gendersensitive development strategies, to eliminate violence and all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation, to ensure the full and effective participation of women at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life and to give them equal access to economic resources, ownership and control over land and other forms of property and to modern technologies. 41. The participation of women in the process of sustainable development is an asset to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Many countries report that inequalities persist, given that women have not achieved full parity in any dimension, still lag behind in participation in political life and leadership roles, are not paid equally for work of equal value, hold fewer managerial and executive positions and experience high rates of harassment and gender-based violence. Some countries reported the adoption of laws on equal rights for women in employment and social life, laws and policies for eliminating and combating domestic violence against women, as well as initiatives to increase the representation of women on the boards of State-owned entities and companies. The Economic Commission for Africa provided information about the African Gender and Development Index, introduced in 2004, and about the programme of delivering documents with regard to land rights to women, monitored by African Union bodies. Senegal provided information about a national programme for family security to help households living in extreme poverty, poor families with children under 5 years of age and people working in rural areas. Uganda grants legal aid to women, in support of their petitions against companies for violations of their rights. 42. Nevertheless, only a few countries reported measures taken in favour of the most disadvantaged women, which include rural women and Roma women, such as to promote 9 10 UNDP, “Annual report 2018” (UNDP, New York, 2019), p. 4.