The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is being observed through out the world, including Pakistan today (Saturday). The UN General Assembly designated this day in 1992 to promote awareness to eradicate poverty and destitution in the world, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.
At the Millennium Summit, world leaders committed themselves to cut by half the number of people living in extreme poverty by the year 2015. The theme for this year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - "Working together out of Poverty" - highlights the need for a truly global anti-poverty alliance, one in which both developed and developing countries participate actively.
In a message, the UN Secretary General has said, "At a time of multiple global crises, the poorest and most vulnerable have a special claim on our attention. We know that, in any recession, those hurt first-and worst-are the poor."
According to recent estimates, the global economic crisis has claimed at least 50 million jobs this year. As many as 100 million more people are expected to fall below the poverty line in 2009. Climate change further compounds the problem. He said the United Nations system was responding to the crisis on a number of fronts, promoting food security, building a greener economy, ensuring stronger safety nets and putting forward a Global Jobs Pact.