International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17

The United Nations, through Resolution 47/196, established October 17 as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.  While this resolution was passed in December of 1992 the date can be traced back to 1987.  This was the day that over 100,000 people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris.  The same location where, in 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed.

The intention of today being designated as such is to draw attention to the devastating effect that poverty has on both the individual and society where it resides.  To allow extreme poverty to exist in a society is against the idea of human rights.  This year the focus is on the idea that extreme poverty perpetuates a cycle of violence and discrimination.  Officially the theme is  “Ending the Violence of Extreme Poverty: Promoting Empowerment and Building Peace".

People are encouraged to show support and maybe find things they can do by going to http://www.endpoverty2015.org/ or http://overcomingpoverty.org/