3.2 Challenges 3.2.1 Despite the above positive developments, SADC still faces a number of political, economic and social challenges. These include: i) Economic underdevelopment and poverty; ii) The HIV and AIDS pandemic; iii) Inter and intra state conflicts; iv) Consolidation of democracy and good governance; v) Refugees, irregular movers, illegal migrants and internally displaced persons; vi) The need to redress imbalances in the accessibility to natural resources and wealth; vii) The demobilisation, disarmament, reintegration and monitoring of ex-combatants; viii) The development and consolidation of regional disaster management mechanisms; and ix) 3.2 Corruption. Objectives 3.3.1 The overall objectives of the Organ in the Political Sector are stipulated in Article 2 of the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and are: OBJECTIVE 1 To protect the people and safeguard the development of Region against instability arising from the breakdown of law and order, intra-state and inter-state conflicts and aggression. 17