Events for the day are being co-organized by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the International Movement ATD Fourth World Initiative.

A commemoration for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty will be taking place at the United Nations Garden from 10:30 to 11.45 a.m. This event will gather children and adults representing poor communities. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, José Antonio Ocampo, will deliver the Secretary-General’s message for the Day. Also taking part will be the President of the Economic and Social Council, Ambassador Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala; the Permanent Representatives of France and Burkina Faso to the United Nations; non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations staff and others to bear witness to those who fight poverty, hunger and violence.

The ATD Fourth World Initiative has invited two representatives of very poor families in Guatemala, Clara Chet de Rivera and Marta Zoila Caballeros, to share testimonies about what it means to build solidarity with others, despite living in extreme poverty. This event will also feature a performance by the Peace of Heart Choir from New York. This event will be followed by a special ceremony on the occasion of World Food Day on the theme “Working together for an international alliance against hunger”, organized by the FAO.

This event will take place in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium between 12:30 and 2 p.m. and will bring together children from the Tapori Network -– an international network of children concerned about poverty -– who will act out an African folktale and discuss poverty and hunger with children from Zimbabwe and the Director General of the FAO, Jacques Diouf.

The theme for the International day for poverty eradication in 2005 is “Successful efforts to reduce poverty around the world “.

Message of the Secretary-General [E] [F] [S]