International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated every year on 17th October.  The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty Day is also called Poverty Day, and it is celebrated to encourage and create awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and extreme poverty conditions like destitution worldwide, mainly in developing countries. You cannot decline that poverty is a social problem, and it affects various communities around the world with effects on individual people and whole cities. To Eradicate poverty, different non-government organizations and various charities support the Day by deliberately calling for country heads and governments to fight for the eradication of poverty. Other activities on Poverty Day are signing petitions, organizing campaigns and cultural events, and holding interfaith meetings that may include a moment of silence.

“As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” – Nelson Mandela

History of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

On 17th October 1987 at the Trocadero in Paris, France more than 100,000 people assembled to honor the victims of poverty, hunger, and violence. From that time, various organizations and individuals worldwide started observing 17th October as a day to stimulate their dedication in participating towards eradicating poverty. The UN General Assembly In December 1992 announced officially that 17th October is the date for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty or Poverty Day. In December 1995, the UN General Assembly indicated the 1st United Nations Decade (1997–2006) for the elimination of Poverty, after the Copenhagen Social Summit. In the year 2000 at the Millennium Summit, leaders around the world pledged themselves to reduce by half the number of people living in destitution by the year 2015.  Even though this Day for the Eradication of Poverty was 1st officially observed by the UN in the year 1993, many people around the globe celebrated the day every year on 17th October since 1987. The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty or Poverty Day is observed worldwide and not it is not a public holiday. Poverty Day promotes and recognizes the struggles of those people living in extreme poverty and this day also gives people living in poverty a chance to make their worries and opinions heard, acknowledging that they are the 1st to fight against poverty.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Other Celebrations on October 17

October 17 is also celebrated as

How to Observe International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Observe the day by participating in various activities and events organized in your city or town that focus on the Eradication of Poverty. Various non-government institutions and community foundations promote the day by actively requesting for country leaders and governments to make the fight against poverty a central role of foreign policy. Other activities may include engaging in “Call to action” petitions, organizing concerts and cultural events, and holding interfaith gatherings that may include a moment of silence. Share your thoughts about poverty day on social media using the hashtag #EndPoverty.

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