E/CN.4/1999/48 page 9 24. Similarly, even in times of severe resources constraints, whether caused by a process of adjustment, of economic recession, or by other factors, the vulnerable members of society can and, indeed, must be protected by the adoption of relatively low-cost targeted programmes. 25. A final element of article 2 (1) is that the undertaking given by all States parties is “to take steps, individually and through international assistance and cooperation, especially economic and technical”. The phrase “to the maximum of its available resources” is intended to refer to both the resources existing within a State and those available from the international community through international cooperation and assistance. 26. In practical terms, States' obligations must be seen in the light of the assumptions that human beings, families or wider groups seek to find their own solutions to their needs. Therefore, States should, at the primary level, respect the resources owned by the individual or groups seeking to make optimal use of their own knowledge and the freedom of individuals and groups to satisfy their own needs. At a secondary level, States' obligations require active protection against other more aggressive subjects, such as protection against fraud or unethical behaviour. At a tertiary level, the State has the obligation to facilitate opportunities by which the rights listed can be enjoyed. At the fourth level, the State has the obligation to fulfil the rights of those who otherwise cannot enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights. 27. According to the Committee, Articles 55 and 56 of the Charter of the United Nations and the Covenant itself aim at international cooperation for development and for the realization of economic, social and cultural rights as an obligation of all States. It is particularly incumbent upon those States which are in a position to assist others in this regard. The Committee noted in particular the importance of the Declaration on the Right to Development and the need for States parties to take full account of all of the principles recognized therein. C. Poverty, human rights and development 28. In adopting the Declaration on the Right to Development, the General Assembly, in resolution 41/128, recognized that development is a comprehensive, cultural, political, economic, and social process which aims at constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and the fair distribution of benefits resulting therefrom. 29. The right to development is an inalienable human right by which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized (art. 1 (1)). The human person is the central subject of development and should be an active participant and beneficiary of the right to development (art. 2 (1)). 30. The World Conference on Human Rights, in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights. While