The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed every year on October 17th. On this day, people of all backgrounds and societies show solidarity with the poor by renewing their commitment to help them.
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has become a day to acknowledge the struggle of people living in poverty. On this day, those living in poverty have a chance to be heard. The poor are among the first to fight against poverty. That’s because they understand the challenges first-hand. Those who live in poverty often don’t have adequate shelter or enough food to eat. They either make minimal income or none at all. Persons living in poverty also face unequal access to justice and limited health care. Most people living in poverty also struggle with shame, rejection, and humiliation.
The struggles with poverty affect nearly half of the world’s population. More than 3 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 1 billion people live on less than $1.25 a day. This is considered extreme poverty. These statistics include 1 billion children who live in poverty. About 22,000 children a day die as a direct result of living in poverty.
On October 17, 1987, over a hundred thousand people gathered in Paris where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948. They gathered to honor the victims of extreme poverty, violence, and hunger. They stated that poverty was a violation of human rights. During the gathering, they unveiled a commemorative stone on which their convictions were inscribed. The tradition of gathering together on October 17th to raise awareness for the poor continued every year. In 1992, the UN officially declared October 17th as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
This year’s theme is “Building forward together: Ending Persistent Poverty, Respecting all People and our Planet".
Source: www.un.org
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