International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: October 17, 2019
In 1992, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly designated October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This day recognizes that people living in poverty experience many interrelated deprivations that prevent them from realizing their rights and perpetuate their poverty, including:
- dangerous work conditions
- unsafe housing
- lack of nutritious food
- unequal access to justice
- lack of political power
- limited access to health care
(Source: United Nations)
The UN recognizes that poverty is not solely an economic issue, but a multilayered phenomenon that encompasses both a lack of income and the basic capabilities to live in dignity.
The 2019 theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is "Acting Together to Empower Children, their Families and Communities to End Poverty." This is to recognize that 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention recognizes the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. You may be interested to read the 2019 edition of the State of the World’s Children for more information. You may also use this day as an opportunity to start this conversation with a child.
If you're looking for a way to broach the topic of poverty with a child, here are some books that can help you get the conversation started.
Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler
On Our Street: Our First Talk About Poverty by Jillian Roberts
Poverty and Hunger by Louise Spilsbury
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