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A/RES/47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the General Assembly declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution.
The theme this year is "From Poverty to Decent Work: bridging the gap".
The 2010 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty comes at a time when people living in poverty and informal sector workers are even more uncertain about employment stability, working conditions, training opportunities and the availability of social protection. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the share of workers in vulnerable employment worldwide is estimated to reach more than 1.5 billion, equivalent to over half (50.6%) of the world’s working population. With attention focused on the start of the International Year of Youth, young people are known to be particularly affected. The ILO found that the global unemployment rate reached 6.6% in 2009, up 0.9% from 2007, while the global youth unemployment rate rose from 11.8% in 2007 to 13.4% in 2009, with wide regional variations. The Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017), with the theme of "Full employment and decent work for all", is an important framework for action through which Member States and the United Nations system can effectively address the global priorities of employment and decent work for poverty eradication.
The main observance will endeavour to illustrate ways in which access to decent work and opportunities for learning and training can be developed with people in poverty, taking into account the existing efforts and experiences of youth, their families, and those working in the informal sector. Testimonies will highlight the need to support initiatives and programmes which are participatory and rights-based, creating a dialogue among different partners (families, workers, social services and employers). New approaches which overcome exclusion and are environmentally, socially and economically advantageous will be highlighted.
The 2010 commemoration will take place on Monday, 18 October at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
INVITATION (in English) 
INVITATION (in French)
(Source: ILO, http://www.ilo.org/global/)
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME OF THE DAY
MESSAGE of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon:
English | Français | Español | Arabic | Chinese | Russia
STATEMENT by H.E. Mr. Michel Kafando, Permanent Representative of Burkina Faso to the United Nations
STATEMENT by H.E. Mr. Gérard Araud, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations (in French)
PRESS RELEASE:Commemoration of International Day for Poverty Eradication, at United Nations Headquarters on 18 October, Will Focus on Youth Unemployment
Event PHOTOS
Related organizations and information:
International Movement ATD Fourth World
http://www.atd-fourthworld.org/en.html
International Year of Youth
http://social.un.org/index/Youth/InternationalYearofYouth082010082011.aspx
Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/poverty/2nddecade.html
International Labour Organization: decent work
http://www.ilo.org/global/Themes/Decentwork/lang--en/index.htm
Youth Employment Network
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/yen/
Commémoration de la Journée internationale pour l'élimination de la pauvreté (in French)