ISLAMABAD: Secretary-General United Nations (UN) António Guterres in his message on World day for Eradication of Poverty said over 700 million people are unable to meet their basic daily needs, said a message issued here on Tuesday.
The theme for commemorating the day 2018 is “Coming together with those furthest behind to build an inclusive world of universal respect for human rights and dignity.”
He said that over millions of those destitute people many live in situations of conflict and crisis while others face barriers in accessing health care, education and job opportunities, preventing them from benefitting from broader economic development.
The Secretary-General UN said, “Twenty-five years ago, the world commemorated the first International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Since then, nearly 1 billion people have escaped poverty, thanks to political leadership, inclusive economic development and international cooperation. However, many are still being left behind”.
He also added that women are disproportionately affected whereas eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, as embodied in Goal 1 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, remains one of the greatest global challenges and a major priority for the United Nations.
“This year, as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us remember that ending poverty is not a matter of charity but a question of justice. There is a fundamental connection between eradicating extreme poverty and upholding the equal rights of all people,” he added.
António Guterres said, “We must listen to the millions of people experiencing poverty and destitution across the globe, tackle the power structures that prevent their inclusion in society and address the indignities they face. We must build a fair globalization that creates opportunities for all and ensure that rapid technological development boosts our poverty eradication efforts”.
“On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty let us commit to uphold the core pledge of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind”, he added.
It may be mentioned that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the declaration by the General Assembly, in its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, of 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Call to Action by Father Joseph Wresinski which inspired the observance of October 17 as the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty and the recognition by the United Nations of the day as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
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