International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 Oct

Posted on | October 21, 2009 | No Comments

Every year since 1993, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed on 17 October. The goal is to promote further awareness of the need to eradicate poverty all around the world.

Since the very beginning, participation of poor people themselves has been a central feature of the celebration of the day and the recognition that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty is one of its most important aspects, highlighted by the UN. Nine years ago, at the Millennium Summit, world leaders committed to a global partnership to reduce extreme poverty, including setting up a number of time-bound targets, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDG:s) with a deadline of the year 2015. The first of these goals is to reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day.

This year, the observance of the day highlights the importance of children’s rights, especially the right to survival and full development, the right to protection from abuse and exploitation and the right to participate in family, cultural and social life. Children should also have the right to express their opinions and make their voices heard.

Part of the UN press conference on the occasion of the day can be seen here.

Source: UN.

Written by Fanny Johansson

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