19 October 2023 - ※In our world of plenty, poverty has no place,§ UN Secretary-General Ant車nio Guterres stressed in his message for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. John Wilmoth, Officer-in-Charge of UN DESA＊s Division for Inclusive Social Development, echoed these words as he welcomed attendees to the official commemoration event taking place at UN Headquarters in New York on 17 October.

※Nearly 70 billion people are barely making ends meet, living on less than $2.15 a day," Mr. Wilmoth conveyed from the Secretary-General＊s message. "At the current pace, almost 500 million people will still be living in extreme poverty in 2030."

This year, the day was held under the theme ※Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting Dignity in Practice for All,§ bringing together participants and speakers who shared their own experiences and collective commitment to end poverty. 

Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Special Representative to the UN and Director of the ILO Office for the UN took the stage stressing that ※the financing gap to achieve social protection flow is 78 billion per year in low-income countries.§

※We need to step up our international cooperation for the poorest and most vulnerable countries, [...] poverty anywhere is the threat to prosperity anywhere,§ Ms. Samuel-Olonjuwon said.

The need to close the financing gap and reform the international financial architecture, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and advance efforts to eradicate poverty, was also emphasized by world leaders at the SDG Summit last month. This was also highlighted by the Secretary-General in his message for the day.

Youth representatives also spoke during the commemoration ceremony, sharing their own experiences of balancing the pursuit of decent jobs and their dreams. They also read the inscription on the Commemorative Stone in Honor of Victims of Extreme Poverty in the six official languages of the 51勛圖.

The event then culminated with live music performed by Lavender Light Black and People of All Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir and closing remarks by Martin Kalisa, from the ATD Fourth World International Leadership Team.

While speakers elaborated on the important work towards ending poverty, the powerful message of the UN Secretary-General served as a reminder of what the human family can accomplish when we all work together.  

"Ending poverty is the challenge of our time. But it is a challenge we can win."

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