October 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The United Nations declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP) in 1992.

Significance

According to internationally agreed poverty line, one in 10 people in developing regions are still living on less than 1.90 USD per day. Though significant progress has been made in certain countries in Eastern and South Eastern Asia, around 42% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa still lives below poverty line. According to the United Nations, there are 783 million people living below international poverty line which is 1.90 USD per day

Theme: Acting together to Empower Children, their families and Communities to End Poverty

SDG and Poverty

The target 1A of SDG-Sustainable Development Goal is “Ensuring significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries”

Inspiration

The Call to Action by Father Joseph Wresinski was the major inspiration to commemorate the day. Joseph Wrensinski was born to immigrant parents in a poor neighbourhood of France. He grew up in chronic poverty and was ordained a priest in 1946. He served in industrial and rural parishes. It was him who urged the UN to declare the IDEP. He is the founder of International Movement ATD Fourth World.

History

In 1987, more than 100,000 people gathered on the Human Rights and Liberties Plaza, Paris, France. Father Joseph Wresinski unveiled a commemorative stone honoring victim of poverty, hunger, violence and fear.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2019