World Day For the Eradication of Poverty Celebrated at the United Nations

At a solemn yet joyful ceremony at the United Nations this week the
United Nations and International Movement ATD Fourth World commemorated
this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. An
interesting mix of Ambassadors, Volunteers, International Delegates and
Inner City Children came together to talk about poverty and its’ victims
and to share messages of struggles and of hope.

Speakers included the United Nations General Assembly President H.E.
Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, Deputy Secretary General Mr. Mark
Malloch Brown and Under Secretary General of Economic and Social Affairs
Mr. Jose Antonio Ocampo. They spoke about the urgent need to eradicate
poverty by working together./ /The UNGA President stated that “/The 14th
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is an opportunity for
us all to acknowledge, that the real experts in poverty reduction are
those that experience this struggle every day.”/

/ /These messages were interspersed with testimonies from delegates from
around the world and those fighting poverty right here in New York City.
A widow from Guatemala, Lorena Tepeu, told of working in a garbage dump
to support her five children. She stated that she felt dignity in her
work because it enabled her to work towards a better future for her
children.

Children and teens from New York told of their dreams of escaping
poverty and for the future. One teenager from Brooklyn, Obie Donald told
of his dream of being a meteorologist. He said he had watched his
friends being wooed away from school by the ‘promise’ of gangs and drug
dealing only to end up arrested or even dead. Mr. Donald said that with
the support of his community and family he hoped to stay in school and
to realize his dreams. He also said that with the help of the Fourth
World Movement he was encouraging his friends to do the same.

All who spoke emphasized the need for the world to stand up and
recognize that poverty is all around them, abroad and in their own
backyards. “The only way to end this terrible injustice is to face the
problem and head on and as a united front,” said one speaker.

These issues and more were also discussed at a subsequent panel
discussion entitled “Speaking up against Poverty: Hearing the Voices of
the Poorest.” Speakers, addressed issues related to the issue of
poverty, including the significance of the International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty and the need for partnership in order to create a
world without poverty. A key and recurring theme of this discussion was
the need to go beyond purely economic definitions and therefore
solutions to eradicate poverty. As one speaker, Mr. Damien Peelo, the
National Coordinator of the Traveler Movement in Ireland pointed out,
“Poverty is not just about the absence of money in our pockets. [It’s
about] a lack of recognition of an identity, about a lack of
participation in society and the exclusion in the decision-making process.”

The panelists discussed the importance of October 17 as a platform for
those experiencing poverty to have their voices heard, as the true
experts. Mr. Eugen Brand, Director General of ATD Fourth World,
explained that October 17, “finally gives visibility to people who would
otherwise not exist…[And] builds bridges between groups which were
formerly isolated from each other.” He also went on to identify a need
to trust and support the next generation which can use both “tradition
and innovation” in the future efforts to eradicate poverty. Speakers
also included Josephine Grey, of the Toronto group LIFT (Low Income
Families Together) and Sr. Joan Burke of Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

The event was also the launch of an NGO initiative, “Ending Extreme
Poverty: A Road to Peace.” This appeal states, amongst other things, the
need to “ensure that people living in poverty fully participate in the
development, implementation and evaluation of policies and

programmes that concern them”and can be found at
http://www.oct17.org/site/Call-to-action.html