Today, on 17 October, the world observes the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, reminding us that poverty is not just about lack of income — it is about dignity, justice, and social inclusion.
This year’s theme — “Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment by Ensuring Respect and Effective Support for Families” — calls for a shift in how we see and serve families in poverty. Its goal is clear: put the furthest behind first and build institutions that help families stay together, grow stronger, and shape their own futures.
Families living in poverty often face stigma and control even in the very systems meant to help them — schools, clinics, welfare offices, and child protection systems. Single mothers, Indigenous communities, and historically marginalized groups often report judgment and distrust that weaken family unity and self-agency, sometimes leading to poverty-driven family separation with long-lasting emotional and social consequences.
To change this course, this year’s theme emphasizes three key transformations:
1. From control to care: Redesign services that begin with trust and respect. Simplify procedures, reduce punitive conditions, and prioritize person-centered approaches.
2. From surveillance to support: Shift investments from monitoring and punishment toward family-strengthening services such as income support, quality childcare, safe housing, mental health care, parenting assistance, and access to justice.
3. From top-down to co-created solutions: Engage families experiencing poverty in every stage — from assessment and planning to budgeting, implementation, and evaluation — so policies truly reflect lived realities.
This approach advances multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, and 16) by promoting coherent, people-centered development across social protection, education, health, housing, and employment.
The movement traces back to 17 October 1987, when more than 100,000 people gathered in Paris to honor the victims of poverty, violence, and hunger — declaring that poverty is a violation of human rights. In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized this day through Resolution 47/196.
Let us stand together today and renew our shared commitment —
Leave no one behind. Empower every family with dignity, opportunity, and hope.
Because ending poverty is not only a goal — it is a moral responsibility and a measure of our humanity.
— Dr. Shivajee Kumar
Secretary General, Action for All