International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty
The observance of the International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17 October 1987. On
that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris,
where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honor
the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger.
They proclaimed that poverty is a
violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that
these rights are respected. These convictions are inscribed in a commemorative
stone unveiled on this day.
Since then, people of all
backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered every year on October 17
to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with the poor.
Dignity for all in practice is the
umbrella theme of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty for
2022-2023.
The dignity of the human being is not
only a fundamental right in itself but constitutes the basis of all other
fundamental rights. Therefore, “Dignity” is not an abstract concept: it belongs
to each and every one. Today, many people living in persistent poverty
experience their dignity being denied and disrespected.
