A/RES/71/177 Rights of the child recognizing the valuable role of civil society, including non -governmental organizations, Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains critical, in an increasingly globalized environment, as a result of the persistence of poverty, social inequality, inadequate social and economic conditions, pandemics, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, non -communicable diseases, lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation, environmental damage, climate change, natural disasters, armed conflict, foreign occupation, displacement, violence, terrorism, abuse, all forms of exploitation, including for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation of children, such as child prostitution, child pornography and other sexual abuse material, child sex tourism and child sexual exploitation in travel and trafficking in children, including for the purpose of organ removal and for the transfer of organs of the child for prof it, neglect, illiteracy, hunger, intolerance, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, gender inequality and inadequate legal protection, and convinced that urgent and effective national and international action is called for, Profoundly concerned also that the situation of children in many parts of the world remains negatively affected by the prolonged effects of the world financial and economic crisis, poverty and inequality, reaffirming that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, recognizing its impact beyond the socioeconomic context and the intrinsic interlinkage between poverty eradication and the promotion of sustainable development, in this regard underlining the importance of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and recognizing that a strong focus is needed on poverty, deprivation and inequality to prevent and protect children from all forms of violence and to promote the resilience of children, their families and communities, Expressing deep concern that, despite the recognition of the right of the child to express his or her views freely on all matters affecting him or her, with his or h er views given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child, children are still seldom seriously consulted and involved in such matters owing to a variety of constraints and impediments and that the full implementation of this right has yet to be fully realized, Deeply concerned that children disproportionately suffer the consequences of discrimination, exclusion, inequality and poverty, Deeply concerned also that approximately 5.9 million children under the age of 5 die each year, mostly from preventable and treatable causes, owing to inadequate or lack of access to integrated and quality sexual, reproductive and maternal health-care services, as well as newborn and child health care and services, early childbearing, as well as lack of access to health determinants, such as safe drinking water and sanitation, safe and adequate food and nutrition, including breastfeeding, and that mortality remains highest among children belonging to the poorest and most marginalized communities, Recognizing that the risk of maternal mortality is highest for girls under 15 years of age and that complications in pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of death among girls under 15 years of age in many countries, 4/19