International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

 

Day initiated by Fr. Joseph Wresinski following a gathering of 100,000 people in Paris, France 30 years ago. 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the declaration by the General Assembly of 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. 

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Fr. Joseph Wresinski. Image courtesy of www.twitter.com.


The 25th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty takes place on October 17th. The event came into being following a gathering in Paris, France on October 17th, 1987, initiated by Fr. Joseph Wresinski.

Fr. Joseph Wresinski was born to immigrant parents who had fled from Poland to France in 1917. He grew up in a poor neighbourhood of Angers, a city on the edge of the Loire Valley in western France - an experience which greatly shaped his outlook on life. He was ordained a priest in 1946. Soon afterwards, Fr. Wresinski was appointed as Chaplain to an informal camp for immigrants located in the suburbs of Paris. His vision was to unite all sections of society around the poorest.

Fr. Wresinski's vision continues to live on and is encapsulated in the theme for the 2017 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: 'Answering the Call of October 17 to end poverty: A path toward peaceful and inclusive societies'.

Fr. Wresinski felt that camps for immigrants should offer more than soup kitchens and second hand clothes. In the first camp where he served as Chaplain, Fr. Wresinski set-up a library, workshop, kindergarden and a chapel. It led to the founding of All Together in Dignity Fourth World - a movement which still exists today. It is claimed that his efforts led to 'extreme poverty' being included on the human rights agenda. On October 17th, 1987 - and four months before his death - Fr. Wresinski unvieled a plaque which read:

“Wherever men and women are condemned to live in poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty.”

One hundred thousand people from across the social divide gathered at the Trocadero Human Rights Plaza in Paris for the occasion. Five years later, in 1992, the UN declared October 17th as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

In Ireland, an event to mark the day will take place at the Human Rights and Poverty Stone, on Custom House Quay, Dublin 1. It will include the symbolic launch by Ambassador David Donoghue of 17 Global Goals Boats on the Liffey. Guest speakers will be delegates from communities facing persistent poverty in Ireland, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the French Ambassador and the 17 builders of mini-boats. The ceremony will commence at 11am sharp.

 

- Links

  • Click here to visit the UN page for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
  • Click here to visit the website of All Together in Dignity Fourth World - Ireland.
  • Click here to find out more about events taking place in Ireland.