(ANS – New York) – October 17th is the day to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty. The Commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP), with the theme “From Poverty to Sustainability: People at the Center of Inclusive Development”, was held on October 17, 2011, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The theme was chosen to focus attention on the upcoming conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June 2012 and to illustrate the important and tangible ways in which people living in poverty protect the sustainability of their environment and break the cycle of poverty.

As has become the custom, the commemoration of the IDEP was organized by the Subcommittee on the Eradication of Poverty and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the UN. The Salesians of Don Bosco assisted in the planning through their representative at the UN, Fr. Tom Brennan, S.D.B, who serves on the Core Committee of the Subcommittee and is a member of the planning committee for IDEP.

The midday commemoration included statements from the Ambassadors from France and Burkina Faso, co-sponsors of the event, Secretary General Mr. Ban ki-Moon, UN Officials and most importantly, statements from those who have lived in poverty and are moving to have sustainable lives. An afternoon event included a theatrical presentation of those who make a living by recycling the discarded cans and bottles of others and a panel of experts, i.e, those who have moved from poverty to furthering their education and becoming self supporting.

In preparing the Rio Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 the United Nations is “recognizing that eradicating poverty is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development” (resolution A/RES/64/236).

Published 19/10/2011