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October 17, The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - Page 2

© Kate Evans

Background In 1992 the United Nations declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The day had already been marked by voluntary organisations, including ATD Fourth World, each year since 1987, when 100,000 defenders of human rights gathered in Paris, France to witness the laying of a commemorative stone in honour of the victims of extreme poverty. It bore the inscription: “Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty. Joseph Wresinski.”

This commemorative stone was laid at the Plaza of Human Rights and Liberties where fifty years before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed.

On October 17 we: · raise awareness of the existence of extreme poverty · listen to what people living in poverty have to say · affirm the conviction that extreme poverty is not inevitable · commit ourselves to work for the eradication of extreme poverty, learning how to do this in partnership with the poorest · call on government and other authorities to adopt a participatory approach to the implementation of effective anti-poverty strategies.

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