A/68/333 18. The major international conventions focusing on the rights of racial minorities and women, 14 groups that have historically been discriminated against, also encompass provisions recognizing the right of temporary special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality. In his report to the General Assembly in 2009, the former Special Rapporteur on racism noted his belief that, whereas non-discrimination is essential to create a level playing field for different communities, non-discrimination on its own does not provide for the correction of imbalances which are the result of historical legacies, such as slavery and segregation. In this regard, there continues to be a need for the enactment of special measures, as provided for in article 1.4 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, concerning groups that suffered from decades or centuries of discrimination, thus helping to transform the goal of integration and equal opportunities into a concrete reality for all. 15 General recommendation No. 32 of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination further clarifies the meaning and scope of special measures. 19. The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action has discussed extensively the link between poverty and racism. The Durban Declaration recognizes the “negative economic, social and cultural consequences of racism” (para. 19) and notes that the effects of globalization could aggravate poverty along racial lines (para. 11). Similarly, the Programme of Action recognizes that historical injustices have undeniably contributed to poverty (para. 158), and urges States to adopt policies that will eradicate poverty with a special emphasis on those affected by racism (para. 52). B. The intersection of poverty and racism 20. Poverty does not result only from an unequal sharing of resources. Discrimination against groups and persons based on their ethnicity, race, religion or other characteristics or factors has been known to encourage exclusion and impoverish certain groups of the population who suffer from unequal access to basic needs and services. Groups that are discriminated against, such as Afro-descendants, minorities, indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees, are disproportionately affected by poverty in all regions of the world. The complex relationship between racism and discrimination suggests that only the guarantee of equality and non-discrimination can redress that imbalance and protect such groups from falling into or being trapped in poverty. 21. The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has defined poverty as a human condition characterized by the sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. 16 A history of discrimination has left a large number of racial and ethnic groups in various parts of the world trapped in conditions of “chronic __________________ 14 15 16 13-43133 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (arts. 1 (4) and 2 (2)) and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (art. 4 (1)). A/64/271, para. 42. Quoted in the report of the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty (A/HRC/15/41), para. 14. 7/22