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Building a sustainable future requires us to intensify our efforts towards eradicating extreme poverty and discrimination, and ensuring that everyone can fully exercise their human rights. The full participation of people living in poverty, particularly in the decisions that affect their lives and communities, must be at the centre of policies and strategies to build a sustainable future. In this way, we can guarantee that our planet and our societies can fulfil the needs and aspirations of everyone – not only those of a privileged few – for this and future generations.
This year under the theme “Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination”, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty holds particular significance because it will be the first observance following the formal adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Within this new development framework, designed to replace and carry forward the aims of the Millennium Development Goals, all countries commiMed to “ending poverty in all its forms and dimensions.”
Celebrated since 1987 as the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty and recognized by the United Nations in 1992 [2], the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty promotes dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty and their communities, and society at large. “It represents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard and a moment to recognize that poor people are in the forefront in the fight against poverty.” (United Nations, Report of the Secretary General, A/61/308, para. 58).
Learn more about the 2015 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
