International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October 2008: "Human Rights and Dignity of People Living in Poverty" To mark International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October 2008, UNESCO supported the initiative of the collective "L’Arche et la Dalle"*. A large gathering took place in the business district of La Défense, near Paris. The International Day was organized under the banner of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year's main theme was "Human Rights and Dignity of People Living in Poverty". |
UNESCO
2008-10-16 2:35 pm
On 17 October 2008, a large gathering marked the end of the activities organized by "L’Arche et la Dalle", in close cooperation with UNESCO.
According to the World Bank, 1.4 billion people in developing countries were living in extreme poverty (on less than US$1.25 per day) in 2005. In these same countries, the following year, more than 140 million children were underweight. The current economic difficulties are likely to aggravate the situation.
In a message for the International Day, Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, states “Fighting against poverty…entails proposing new ways of disseminating and sharing knowledge; it also means fostering dialogue between the various systems of knowledge and cultures, and creating new opportunities for development. Effectively mobilizing the international community is both a necessity and a matter of urgency…. UNESCO, alongside the entire United Nations system, and its partners, is fully mobilized to respond to these challenges.”
Extracts from this message were read during the gathering. As of 17 October, it also appeared on a large screen during three days in La Défense.
Programme - 17 October 2008
9.30 a.m.
Screening of the movie "Versailles": free entrance.
11.40 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.
Various activities will take place. Download the programme [PDF, in French].
1.00 p.m.
Related Link 1 - URL http://portal.unesco.org/shs/fr/files/12470/12241869017programme_17october.pdf/programme_17october.pdf
Author(s) | UNESCO |
Keywords | dignity, human rights, poverty |
Geography Keywords | France, Europe and North America |
|
UNESCO SHS
Have feedback? Email the SHS Webmaster |
||