1119. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is an international day established by the United Nations.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for collective action for just, peaceful, and inclusive societies to end social and institutional maltreatment.

Poverty is a global plague that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. However, poverty is not inevitable. It is a direct consequence of the choices made by society and governments.

People living in poverty struggle against systemic barriers to accessing essential services and support, as well as social discrimination. Eradicating global poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require prioritizing policies that shape institutions and systems that prioritize people, as well as investing in decent work, learning opportunities, and social protection as tools to lift people out of poverty. We also need an international financial mechanism to help developing countries invest in their countries.

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to three researchers, including Professor Daron Acemoglu of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, who pointed out the importance of political institutions that determine the difference between prosperous and poor countries.

The eradication of poverty is an essential foundation for a humane and dignified society that leaves no one behind. On this important day, let us recommit ourselves to making poverty a thing of the past.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program