Today’s observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at the UN calls for the participation of people living in poverty in the development of policies and strategies to ensure a sustainable future that benefits everyone and leaves no one behind.

The annual observance, officially recognised on October 17, advocates for the rights of people living in poverty. The 2015 theme “Building a sustainable future: coming together to end poverty and discrimination” recognises that achieving a sustainable future, a future in which everyone’s basic needs are met, means intensifying efforts to end poverty and discrimination and ensuring everyone can fully exercise their human rights.

According to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) report 2015, there are over 800 million people living in poverty. This segment of the global population has limited access to education and health care, and suffers social discrimination and exclusion as well as the opportunity to participate in decision-making activities that affect their future.

“Leaving no one behind means ending the discrimination and abuse targeted at one half of humankind – the world’s women and girls,” noted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his annual message. “It means combatting overt discrimination against minorities, migrants and others – as well as the more insidious neglect of the disadvantaged, especially children. And it means ensuring access to the rule of law and protecting the human rights of all.”

This year is of particular importance as it will be the first observance following the formal adoption of the Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by UN member states in September. With poverty eradication as the highest priority for the new sustainable development agenda, the first goal “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” aims to go further than the MDGs by looking at the root causes of poverty.

“We are resolved to free the human race within this generation from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet for the present and for future generations,” states the text of the 2030 Agenda.

To achieve a sustainable future, it is important to harmonize the three core elements of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. Addressing this demands changes to economic and social policies, strategies and priorities adopted in recent decades that have contributed to environmental degradation, unparalleled inequalities and social injustice.
“Ours can be the first generation to witness a world without extreme poverty, where all people — not only the powerful and the privileged — can participate and contribute equally, free of discrimination and want,” concluded Mr. Ban.

UN Headquarters Commemoration
The official commemoration at the UN headquarters features the testimonies of people living in poverty. There will also be video presentations and a musical performance. The event is organized in partnership with the International Movement ATD Fourth World, the NGO Sub-Committee for the Eradication of Poverty and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, supported by the Permanent Missions of France and Burkina Faso to the UN.

About the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Through resolution 47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the General Assembly declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution. The resolution further invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to assist States, at their request, in organizing national activities for the observance of the Day, and requests the Secretary-General to take, within existing resources, the measures necessary to ensure the success of the Day’s observance by the United Nations.

The Day presents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that people living in poverty are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of those living in poverty has been at the centre of the Day’s observance since its inception and also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to its eradication.

 

For more information, visit: http://undesadspd.org/Poverty.aspx, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/poverty/