International Day for the Eradication of Poverty observed on 17 October

17 October 2013: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was observed on 17 October 2013 to promote people’s awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution worldwide, particularly in developing countries.

Theme for the year 2013 is:    

Working together towards a world without discrimination: Building on the experience and knowledge of people in extreme poverty

United Nations General Assembly in 1993 by resolution 47/196 designated International Day for the Eradication of Poverty to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.

Fighting poverty remains at the core of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 development agenda.

Background

The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to  17 October 1987. On that date, more than 100000 people gathered in Paris, France, to honor the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger.
 
Since that moment, individuals and organizations worldwide observed October 17 as a day to renew their commitment in collaborating towards eradicating poverty.

In December, 1992, the UN General Assembly officially declared 17 October as the date for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992).

In December 1995, the UN General Assembly proclaimed the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997–2006), following the Copenhagen Social Summit. At the Millennium Summit in 2000, world leaders committed themselves to cutting by half the number of people living in extreme poverty by the year 2015.