International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

international | miscellaneous | event notice Thursday October 16, 2003 14:36 by Brian Carty - European Anit-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland eapn at iol dot ie 5 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1 01 874 57 37

Commemoration event in Dublin

This is a message from the organisers of the Dublin commemoration of the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

We are gathering at the Famine Memorial in Dublin on 17th October 2003 in order to shine a light on the situation and courage of people living in poverty in Ireland and throughout the world.

We - people from different backgrounds and responsibilities including those who are presently fighting against poverty - send this message to people who are commemorating this day around the world. We commit ourselves to working with you: to overcome injustice, inequality and discrimination; to empower people and communities; to develop a world where people are valued over profits and where every human being can live in dignity and in peace.

We are here to say that our country is wealthy enough to eradicate poverty:

·We can provide accommodation for the homeless
·We can provide care for the sick
·We can educate all of our children
·We can recognise the rights of people with disabilities
·We can get rid of laws which discriminate against some of the most vulnerable groups and individuals in our society
·We can remove the poverty traps which exist for many people
·We can meet our international obligations in aid to developing countries
·We can reject international trade agreements which impoverish whole countries and peoples
·We can change the priorities and structures of society so that they no longer produce poverty and inequality

We have the potential and the creativity to achieve these things.

We reaffirm the message at the heart of this UN day:

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

Today, we rededicate ourselves to this task.

The UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is marked around the world. The commemoration in Dublin will take place at 12.00pm. at the Famine Memorial, Custom House Quay, Dublin 1.

For more information telephone 01 8558191 or e-mail 17october@eircom.net or visit the 17th October web site www.oct17.org

The 17th October committee includes members of:
European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland; Exchange House Traveller Service; Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice; South West Inner City Network; St Teresa’s Gardens Employment and Environment project; NYP Family Support Group Blanchardstown; ATD Fourth World; Irish Traveller Movement; Trinity College Dublin; Sli Eile volunteer project; St Vincent’s Trust; St Michael’s Estate Family Resource Centre; Community Link