International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2024

Oct. 16

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (2024) describes poverty as a ‘multidimensional phenomenon that includes both a lack of income and a lack of basic capabilities to live in dignity including unsafe housing, lack of nutritious food, limited access to healthcare, dangerous work conditions, unequal access to justice and lack of political power’.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty originates from when it was first observed in Paris, France in 1987 when a massive gathering of people proclaimed poverty as a violation of human rights, and five years later on October 17, this day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1992.

We can honour this day by raising awareness about the ongoing fight against poverty and the constant need for action from everyone to address this injustice. This day calls upon the actions of individuals, communities and governments to all work together and achieve social justice and sustainable development. You can read about Canada’s first national poverty reduction strategy here. In order to accomplish these goals, it’s important that those living in poverty are given the opportunity to make their voices heard and experiences validated. Unfortunately, poverty is nothing new to human history but for many of us privileged enough to have never experienced living under these conditions, this commemorative day stands as an important day to learn and reflect on the effects of poverty, to question why we live in a world where poverty continues to exist and encourages us to feel the solidarity and compassion for those less unfortunate than us, even if we cannot relate to their experiences and to work towards a world without poverty where everyone can enjoy what life has to offer.

The theme for this commemorative day in 2024 is Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment Acting together for just, peaceful and inclusive societies. This theme sheds light on the unjust institutional maltreatment of those living in poverty. People suffering from poverty face enough hardship in their lives including the struggles of finding their next meal or a safe place to sleep as well as are denied fundamental human rights to healthcare, housing, education and the right to legal identity. The intention of this theme highlights one of the hidden dimensions of poverty which does not always come to mind. This includes how those affected become victim to further discrimination and prejudice from society and are targeted by negative attitudes that continue to stigmatize, discriminate, and shame those suffering from economic hardships. We see these examples in society where false beliefs are inherently accepted such as how service users dependent on systems like Income support deserve to be in the positions that they are in or how those living in poverty are the first to be blamed or scapegoated when problems arise; but these stereotypes only serve to divide us and remove the sense of humanity and dignity from people that have more in common with us than we think. Institutional maltreatment only further degrades people suffering from poverty including undermining their self-esteem, destroying their sense of agency and control, denying people of their dignity, and removing all hopes of escaping poverty as a whole.

According to the 2021 Canadian Income Survey, 2.8 million Canadians (7.4% of the population) were living below the poverty line; an increase of 6.4% in 2020 (source). Millions of Canadians affected by poverty rely on community service organizations to address their needs and access food, shelter, mental health supports and other basic needs. Reports show the linkage between poverty and intersectionality, with many marginalized groups identified as more vulnerable and at a higher risk of poverty including Indigenous peoples, racialized groups, people living with a disability and lone-parent families. On an international level, according to statistics from the United Nations, current trends estimate that 575 million people will be living in extreme poverty levels by the year 2030, with only one third of countries meeting their target to cut these poverty levels in half.

From the Awareness Days (2024) website, here is a list of some ways to get involved with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in 2024.

Raise Awareness: Share information about the day’s significance and poverty-related issues on social media, blogs, or within your community.
Support Anti-Poverty Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with organizations dedicated to fighting poverty, providing essential services, and empowering marginalized communities.
Advocate for Policy Change: Advocate for policies and initiatives that address the root causes of poverty, such as access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.
Participate in Events: Look for local or virtual events, conferences, and workshops focused on poverty eradication and social justice.
Engage in Community Outreach: Join or organize community-based initiatives to support those in need, such as food drives or assistance programs.
Education and Empowerment: Support educational programs and initiatives that empower individuals and communities to break the cycle of poverty.

The world must come together in its collective action to combat poverty. Donating to charitable organizations that work to address poverty in our communities is an excellent step, and learning to recognize and call out systemic and institutional maltreatment is another tangible and great change that we can make as well. But to combat poverty and aim to eradicate it as a whole, it will take a united and concerted effort from nations with the resources to do so.

Poverty affects us all, and as the great Nelson Mandela once said “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest” (2005).

Written by MSW practicum student, Erik Yuson.