The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is annually observed on 17th October. It is a day which is observed to bring awareness of the issue of poverty which is still a very major concern for our world.
Poverty is a real crisis that affects millions of people around the world. This is a day to acknowledge the suffering of people who have to deal with the consequences of poverty hunger, violence, and homelessness.
This is a day which aims to encourage people and the governments around the world towards taking the issue of poverty seriously and urges them to take action on ending poverty.
| Event | International Day for the Eradication of Poverty |
|---|---|
| Date | October 17, 2022 |
| Day | Monday |
| Significance | The day raises awareness of the issue of poverty. |
| Observed by | World wide |
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty History:
Poverty is not new to human beings it has been there since the start of the human civilization only. As these all human civilizations were build on the pillars of classes with every people playing different role in society. Throughout the human history this rule had been followed and we have realized that there were many times in our history when poverty was widespread in some places but later it was very prosperous with very little poverty. Even today our world is pretty much divided in terms of poverty according to different countries and regions of the world. So this day aims to bridge that gap from our world and make everyone equal.
The origins of this day goes all the way back to October 17, 1987 when over 100,000 people came together in Paris, France, to honor those who were suffering in the shackles of poverty. The gathering was at the location where the Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948. They all also came together to unveil the commemorative stone by Father Joseph Wresinski, a humanitarian. The commemorative stone declared that poverty was a violation of human rights and it is everyone's duty to come together to work against it and finally eliminate it.
This movement later inspired the United Nations to adopt a day focusing on poverty. So in December 1992, the United Nations adopted a resolution to observe a day where poverty would be in focus. In honor of the gathering and unveiling at Paris in 1987, the United Nations selected October 17 as the date to observe International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This day was set aside to encourage all countries to work actively to remove poverty by taking steps towards sustainable development. And it also serves as a platform for ensuring the rights of the poor.
The UN recognized that the poor are the experts of their own situations and know what they need. This day is meant to be an opportunity to work with people living in poverty to identify long-term solutions to their immediate problems. As it has been seen that many short-term solutions like providing immediate assistance or help doesn't really work as the motive of this day is to make poor prosperous but also as independent for a long term solution to the crisis.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty Significance:
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty promotes dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty and their communities, and society at large. "It represents 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 recognise that poor people are in the forefront in the fight against poverty."
This day is also dedicated to Father Joseph Wresinski who was among the first one to raise the issue and importance of eradicating poverty in the modern world. Early in his career as an activist, Wresinski recognized that governments often ignored the plight of those living in poverty, leading to feelings of rejection, shame, and humiliation. As a result, one of the primary goals of the day is to recognize the struggles of the impoverished and to make their voices heard by governments and citizens.
In a world characterized by an unprecedented level of economic development, technological means and financial resources, that millions of persons are living in extreme poverty is a moral outrage. Poverty is not solely an economic issue, but rather a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses a lack of both income and the basic capabilities to live in dignity. As the people living in poverty lacks very basic necessities like food, water, electricity, education, shelter, etc. which leads to diseases, crimes, bad health and ultimately casualties as many dies to hunger and poverty every year most of them being children.
The UN has set Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by 2030 which mentions that it wants to end poverty from our world by 2030 which looks a very challenging task as over 1.3 billion in our world are estimated to be living in multidimensional poverty in our world right now. However Poverty can be eradicated. It is not an impossible task, and including poor people in the conversation is the first step. That, combined with the promotion of growth and employment opportunities, addressing gender inequalities, and improving public facilities, will greatly help to eradicate poverty from the world.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty Theme:
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2022 theme is "Dignity For All in Practice."
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. Hence it is an bery important issue which needs to be addressed as well and thus to aware people this theme is set with a motive to encourage people all over the world to have respect for every human beings of any social classes.
Most Searched FAQs on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty:
1. When is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed?
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is annually observed on 17th October.
2. What are the effects of poverty?
Poor people will not have the basic necessities to live a healthy life. They may experience hunger, homelessness, violence, pain, and fear. They might not be able to go to school or get healthcare if they are sick.
3. What is theme of International Day for Eradication of Poverty 2022?
The theme of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2022 is "Dignity For All in Practice."