A/HRC/13/51 I. Introduction 1. The Social Forum was held in Geneva from 31 August to 2 September 2009, in accordance with resolution 10/29 of the Human Rights Council, in which the Council reaffirmed that the Social Forum was a vital space for dialogue between stakeholders on issues linked with the promotion of the enjoyment of all human rights by all. 2. In accordance with resolution 10/29, the President of the Council appointed, in June 2009, Andrej Logar, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Office at Geneva, as the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the 2009 Social Forum. 3. The present report contains a summary of discussions held at the 2009 Social Forum, as well as its conclusions and recommendations. II. Organization of the Social Forum A. Opening of the session 4. The Chairperson-Rapporteur opened the 2009 Social Forum and invited the President of the Human Rights Council to make inaugural remarks. In his statement, the President stressed that the Social Forum provided a non-hierarchical structure and unique space for multi-stakeholder dialogue, focusing this time on global poverty and the financial and economic crisis. Through these and other features, the Social Forum complemented and added value to existing United Nations human rights mechanisms. 5. The Chairperson-Rapporteur then addressed the Forum and reaffirmed that poverty constituted a barrier to the enjoyment and realization of human rights. He emphasized the importance of continued efforts to address poverty as well as social protection and security programmes, which can have stabilizing economic and social effects during crises when implemented from a human rights perspective. In this context, the Chairperson-Rapporteur welcomed the sharing of national best practices and successful strategies with due regard to the major challenges in providing social security. On a global level, he highlighted the need for policy coherence and international cooperation in the implementation of the social protection floor initiative. 6. The Chairperson-Rapporteur also reaffirmed the present consensus on the need for effective measures to mitigate the negative effects of the current economic and financial crisis, and to distil lessons from it. In particular, he focused on two relevant issues: the importance of sustained commitment to combating poverty, despite resource limitations imposed by crises; and the benefits of a human rights foundation in ensuring that the vulnerable are protected during crises. It was evident that effective and coherent international assistance and cooperation were imperative in combating poverty, particularly in the context of the current crisis, where States’ obligations to provide social security faced serious financial constraints. He called on States to enhance further international assistance and cooperation in the light of the present economic difficulties, which disproportionately affected developing countries. 7. On the second day of the Forum, the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights made her welcome remarks. In her statement, the Deputy High Commissioner emphasized that consensus on social protection was a necessary investment for the alleviation of poverty and recalled ongoing efforts to mobilize action in this area, including the social protection floor initiative. It was also emphasized that the financial and economic crisis required a committed and comprehensive response, and provided an GE.09-17229 3