Arab Non- Violence Society Observed International Day for Eradication of Poverty

Observing the International Day for Eradication of Poverty Dr. Naseer Homoud, Foreign Affairs Advisor of Arab Non- Violence Society and Honorary Member of Arab Youth Media Forum said “the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is an opportunity for people across the world to acknowledge the effort and struggle of those living in poverty, and the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries. The Day is also a chance for the poor to make their concerns heard and to use their own expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty”. He further said “in the fight against poverty, the broad development framework of the MDGs should continue to be the rallying point for the UN system and the international community”.

The International Day for Poverty Eradication seeks to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and to work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people living in poverty by 2015. Formally, in 1993 the United Nations declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty and a chance for them to make their concerns heard, as well as reaffirm our commitment to reducing extreme poverty and hunger.

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. “These basic rights have been overlooked amid developments and modernization and we are lacking far behind yet to tackle this menace of world, which is like an eclipse on our faces”, added Dr. Homoud.

He mentioned that poverty has many faces. Inadequate income can lead to lack of food, shelter or other physical necessities. Indirectly, insufficient material resources also lead to other dimensions of poverty, like social exclusion or poor access to education, health, services or infrastructure. “A vicious cycle of malnutrition and poverty will be never-ending in third world countries unless the poor are given the full right to food, rather than just food alone. In order to create food justice each nation should ensure a law guaranteeing the right to food by equal distribution of resources and education, authentic implementation of public schemes and punishment before the law of public officials who violate the right to food and then only we could achieve the food justice”, he said.

Marinating that poverty eradication is not only a UNMDG Goal rather it is backbone to other MDGs as well Dr. Homoud noted “ real and lasting change for the better must start with the conviction that not only can we achieve the MDGs but also that we must go beyond. The evidence of progress in realizing the MDGs in rapidly developing countries as well as in some of the poorest, point to the possibilities that exist for a successful attack on poverty. At this time of heightened economic and social uncertainty, we must transform possibility into reality”. He urged that the economic and social models that breed poverty can be transformed to deliver economic growth with social justice.

Outlining the vicious cycle of linkage between poverty and food security Dr. Homoud said “it is not surprising that poverty and food security are linked, as the world’s poorest countries are often among the world’s hungriest. Hunger, in turn, contributes to poverty, facilitating a devastating cycle. We cannot deny a bitter truth that persistent hunger results in reduced worker productivity, poor health and lost education, costing poor countries billions every year”.

“This day is an opportunity for us to show camaraderie with millions of men, women and children who continue to live in wretched poverty, and to freely acknowledge and encourage the work of organizations and individuals who are making significant assistance to the fight against poverty. It is also an occasion to raise public consciousness and mobilize various actors to show their renewed assurance to the eradication of poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals”, he said.

“I believe that promise in the Millennium Development Goal to reduce hunger and poverty by half of the year 2015 can only be redeemed by serious thinking, planning and action. When we look the other side, there are impending challenges for the mankind. The nature of crisis asks for global and concerted efforts on the part of world bodies, governments and civil society groups to tackle it. It is high time to unite for eradicating poverty”, said Dr. Homoud.