UNITED NATIONS - The Group of 77 and China (G77+China) on Wednesday made loud calls for a scaled-up global partnership to end poverty, particularly as the world surpasses one billion people living below poverty line.

"Despite some progress made in reducing poverty in some regions, we still have a long winding path to total eradication of poverty which poses itself as a most complex issue, with interplay of economic, political, social and historical factors," said Mourad Benmehidi, permanent representative of Algeria to the UN and chairman of G77.

Speaking at the 50th session of the Commission for Social Development which began here Wednesday, Benmehidi said G77+China were "deeply concerned" over poverty figures and with the 2015 deadline soon approaching for the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The MDGs are a set of eight international development objectives meant to be achieved by 2015, which include goals such as eradicating extreme poverty, reducing child mortality rates, fighting epidemics and developing a global partnership for development.

With "current multiple, interrelated crises and challenges," such as the ongoing financial and economic crisis, the food crisis, and food insecurity and climate change, the situation has been exacerbated, he said.

"The G77+China continues to underscore the importance of addressing the main impediments to eradication of poverty, namely unemployment, inequality, conflicts, instability, family disintegration, armed conflicts which are persistently impeding the avenues for development and growth for large segments of populations in the developing world," Benmehidisaid.

Calling for the need for a "strengthened and scaled-up global partnership for eradication of poverty, based on the recognition of national leadership and ownership of development strategies," he said, adding that international cooperation must be enhanced.

G77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the UN system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.                 

The session will continue through February 10 under the theme of poverty eradication with focuses on full employment and social inclusion. Aside from member states, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will play an important role on the conference. Bringing together these people for these activities. More than 16 side events will be held during the current session.