UN’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2022
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty and the 30th anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, this year, the UN honors people living with poverty and their daily courage and raises awareness on why global cooperation is necessary to eradicate poverty.
This year’s theme for International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is “Dignity for All in Practice”. 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.
This day is marked by acknowledging the effort and daily struggle of people living in poverty, and creating an opportunity for them to make their needs and concerns reach the masses. Poverty is a global problem that requires global attention for it to end.
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty raises awareness of these issues and brings to light, once more, that the social and environmental causes of poverty can be resolved.
The International Day can be traced back to 17 October 1987, to commemorate the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. More than a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, which was where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948.
They declared poverty as a violation of human rights and stated the need to come together and remedy this situation. A commemorative stone was unveiled, with these convictions. Replicas of this commemorative stone have been found around the world, where people gather every year on October 17 to mark this day.
On December 22, 1992, the United Nations General Assembly, through resolution 47/196 declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
