Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty. ” (F. Joseph Wresinski).
On October 17, 1987, this declaration – known as the Commemorative Stone engraved on the Trocadero Plaza (Paris, France) – inaugurated the first World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty, recognized by the United Nations as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in 1992.
Since then, thousands of people have agreed with the text of the Commemorative Stone, revealing a social movement of diverse individuals and groups around the world who agree that extreme poverty is a violation of human rights, and who want to come together to ensure that these rights be respected.
This social movement has led to an ongoing mobilization to strive together to end poverty, an essential step towards human rights and peace for all.
Each year, October 17th will be an opportunity to make public – locally, nationally, and internationally – the growing number of people around the world who agree with this declaration and who work in their own way towards its realization.
You can join these 185,874 Signatories from 155 countries by going to the website
www.overcomingpoverty.org Click the ‘What Can I Do?’ tab across the top and then click on the ‘STEP up and Sign’ tab on the left side menu.
You are then in solidarity with hundreds of thousands of global citizens determined and committed to do their bit to change the lives of our sisters and brothers living in poverty.
Source: overcomingpoverty.org
