Oct. 13 Marks Int'l Day for Eradication of Poverty

October 17th is annually observed as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The primary objective of this day is to promote understanding and dialogue between people living in poverty and the wider society. The eradication of poverty does not just entail helping the poor but also providing every individual with the opportunity to live with dignity.

The theme for International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2023 is “Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting Dignity in Practice for All." This theme emphasizes the need for universal access to decent work and social protection to uphold human dignity for all people.

It also reiterates the need for decent work to provide fair wages, safe working conditions, and recognition of the inherent value and humanity of all workers.

In his message on this occasion, the UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner, said that the UNDP is committed to eradicating poverty and ensuring that people's needs take precedence over profit. This approach is rooted in dignity.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has its origins in the Trocadero in Paris, where over a hundred thousand people gathered in 1987 to pay tribute to the victims of extreme poverty, violence, and hunger.

The Trocadero is the place where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948.