What does this day represent?
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed annually on October 17th to emphasize the urgent need to eradicate poverty across the globe as well as highlight the dire effects of impoverishment. While poverty levels have decreased in recent years, the detrimental consequences of living in poverty haven’t changed: limited access to healthcare, unsafe housing, lack of nutritious food, and so on.
Even though poverty is a well-known global issue, it is still vital to maintain a strong awareness surrounding its causes and effects. As much as we derive enjoyment from rags to riches stories, in the vast majority of cases people born into an impoverished environment tend to remain in a positive feedback cycle that reinforces poverty, further perpetuating the issue.
How did this day start?
To ensure awareness around global poverty is very high, attendees in Trocadero in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, decided to set aside October 17th of 1987 to poverty eradication, a tradition that has lasted for over 30 years and counting. Additionally, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was officially established on December 22nd, 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly via resolution 47/196.
What is Special about This Day in 2023?
As mentioned above, despite a general improvement of living standards as well as a decrease in poverty in recent decades, poverty still remains in strong force. This is especially true in the Global South, which has found it difficult to increase living standards due to their rapidly growing economies. These fast-growing economies have helped create opportunities for the massive young generation that has a stronghold over many countries in the Global South, but critics say ample cognizance of working conditions is not present.
In the 2022-2023 edition of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the main theme and focus is on “Dignity for All” , which emphasizes healthy working conditions as well as peace and prosperity for workers, especially in jobs that are stereotyped for providing low standards of living. If workers are given the opportunity to contribute to society, work in safe and peaceful conditions, and provide for their family’s well-being.
UNESCO BMW’s Involvement
UNESCO Body and Mind Wellness Club has supported the eradication of poverty through online engagement, including online programs in the past. Poverty is a key issue for us to spread awareness on and enable stakeholders and changemakers to continue working on this difficult problem. Furthermore, we are proponents of enabling the education of global citizens and allowing them to contribute more to the world, including through being employed in healthy working conditions.
UNESCO BMW’s Vision
Our vision mission encompasses three main goals that are also in line with this occasion today and engage people of all ages, especially the youth-improvement of the inner ecosystem, enhancement of inner creativity through arts and crafts, and, lastly, encouragement of inner peace on a global level.
Informational Sources:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-for-eradicating-poverty