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2024.10.17
Seoul
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Sadia Masharuf
Photo: World Bank
The history behind International Day for the Eradication of Poverty dates back to October 17, 1987; when over 100,000 people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948. They gathered together proclaiming poverty as a violation of human rights and called for solidarity and collective action toward the eradication of poverty. After that day, people from different walks of life have united annually to express solidarity with those living in poverty.
October 17 was officially recognized as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty after the declaration on December 22, 1992, by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) when resolution 47/196 was adopted. The day emphasizes that poverty is not just about low income but also involves lacking basic needs for dignity, such as safe housing, healthy food, healthcare, fair working conditions, justice, and political power.
According to the World Bank data of 2024, around 692 million people live on less than $2.15 per day below the extreme poverty line, whereas around 1.8 billion people live on the $3.85 per day poverty line. The overall global reduction rate showed a slight improvement from 701 million in 2019 despite an upward revision in Sub-Saharan Africa (14 million). The reduction is driven by Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. In addition to that in 2023, 60% of the population living below the extreme poverty line was living in middle-income countries.
The theme of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 2024 is – “Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment Acting together for just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.” It reveals one of the hidden dimensions of poverty: the social and institutional mistreatment faced by those living in poverty. It will also explore ways to work together toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which aims to foster just, peaceful, and inclusive societies.
A human rights-based approach emphasizes the dignity and autonomy of those in poverty and their empowerment. According to OHCHR, people living in extreme poverty often face negligence or overlooking at different social and institutional levels, such as by politicians, service providers, and policymakers as well as face marginalization and a higher risk of being victims of human rights violations. In addition, social and institutional maltreatment interact and exacerbate each other, intensifying this dual form of violence and deepening injustice, particularly for individuals who also face discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity. UN and different international to local level organizations are working toward the elimination of poverty as well as ending social and institutional maltreatment.
Given the devastating impact of social and institutional mistreatment on human potential, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2024 emphasizes the need for a profound understanding of poverty and the need to explore how various forms of violence and domination interconnect and affect individuals living in poverty.
Written by Sadia Masharuf for Yonsei GSIS Human Rights Hub
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