“Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty.” - Father Joseph Wresinski, Founder of ATD Fourth World. In October of 1987, over one hundred thousand people rallied in Paris, France, to honour the lives of people lost around the world to extreme poverty. Five years later, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was officially recognised by the United Nations. Since its beginning, October 17th has been a day for all citizens to consider how they may contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty, and for governments to consider initiatives that may establish a better quality of life for the poorest of the poor. In 2015, the world is looking at the theme of ‘Building a sustainable future: Coming together to end poverty and discrimination’. This theme is in solidarity with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recently adopted around the world: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
