17 October 2017 | Community Development.
Message on the Occasion of the
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
17th October 2017
On the 17th of October, Seychelles joins the world to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the declaration by the UN General Assembly as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, recognising the duty of all Governments and societies to address socio-economic inequalities and build a more fair, sustainable, and prosperous future for all.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Call to Action by Father Joseph Wresinski, a French priest born to immigrant parents who suffered from great poverty and social exclusion, who inspired the observance of October 17 as the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Answering the Call of October 17 to end poverty: A path toward peaceful and inclusive societies”. The theme reminds us of the importance of dignity, unity, and expression in the fight to end poverty everywhere, underscored in the Call to Action.
The occasion permits us to reflect on the different facets of poverty. The phenomenon is not only revenue driven, or caused by a lack of basic resources. Poverty is also lack of education, basic healthcare, employment, cleanliness, or basic utilities. It is also reflected through poor lifestyle choices, including unproductivity or substance abuse. Today also presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and an occasion to redirect our effort towards the eradication of poverty, as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 1.
Seychelles, in its commitment to fight against poverty, joins the rest of the world today to attain this noble goal. This commitment and anti-poverty philosophy have been recently translated into the creation of the Office of the Secretary of State for Poverty Alleviation. The Office has joined numerous partners in the public, private, and civil sectors to create direct impact and improve the lives of those citizens living in poverty.
For a modern society to accept poverty is morally unacceptable and poverty must be eliminated in all its forms. Ignoring the issue of poverty represents a neglect of individual human rights. There is no development when certain people are left behind.
Poverty eradication is a shared responsibility. On this day, I call on each and every Seychellois to join the fight against poverty. This can be done by helping one another, especially by bringing assistance, attention, care, and hope to the more vulnerable in the community and our society as a whole. We can overcome poverty with national solidarity, and build an equitable and sustainable future for all.
