Global Poverty on the Rise

By Farid Omar

On Saturday, October 17th, social justice activists and concerned global citizens from around the world will observe the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Since the 1990s, the eradication of poverty and destitution in all countries, in particular developing countries, has become one of the priorities of development, considering that the promotion of eradication of poverty and destitution requires public awareness.

First observed on October 17, 1987, when over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly through resolution 47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all States “to devote the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution”.

The Resolution further invites intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations “to assist states, at their request, in organizing national activities for the observance of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, paying due attention to the specific problems of the destitute”

According to the UN, October 17th presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of the poor themselves has been at the centre of the Day's celebration since its very beginning. The commemoration of October 17th also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.

With the global economic crisis, the food crisis and the impacts of climate change combining to reverse the gains made over the past few years in reducing poverty, redoubled efforts by world leaders are required if nations are to continue to move forward on achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

As the gap between the super rich and the poorest communities on the planet continues to grow, global poverty, more than ever before, is alarmingly on the rise.Throughout the world, it is mostly women and children who bear the brunt of poverty. The year 2009 coincides with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,which will be marked on November 20th. UN figures show that each year, nearly 10 million children die from preventable causes before their fifth birthday, and that that some 1.2 million children are trafficked worldwide.

In recognition of this, the 2009 observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty focuses on the plight of children and families living in poverty and the need to fulfill children's rights in partnership with them and in keeping with the Convention.

When it comes to global poverty, the statistics are grim. Every 3 seconds, a child dies of extreme poverty. Over 1 billion people around the world live on less than $1 a day while in Canada, over 1 million children live in poverty. In addressing these challenges, anti-poverty groups in Canada and beyond demand a more and better aid for developing nations, trade justice, debt cancellation and an end to child poverty.

Despite rapid economic growth in the last two decades, it is estimated that a large number of Canadians still live in poverty. But a Pan-Canadian Movement to combat poverty is fast building as activists are mobilizing across the country to spearhead a united front to eliminate poverty in Canada. Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada, was founded in 2009 by Canada Without Poverty and Citizens for Public Justice. The campaign notes that freedom from poverty is a human right and that all are entitled to social and economic security.

In combating the structural causes of poverty in Canada, the Dignity for All Campaign calls for a sustained action by the federal government including a federal plan for poverty elimination that compliments provincial and territorial plans, a federal anti-poverty Act that ensures enduring federal commitment and accountability for results and a sufficient federal investment in social security for all Canadians.

On the international front, concerted efforts by social justice and anti-poverty groups, international organizations and governments from around the world are needed to make poverty history.