Opening remarks by the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva
to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dear Friends:

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the Palais des Nations to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. I appreciate this opportunity to continue our tradition of coming together on this occasion to reaffirm our collective commitment to eradicating poverty. Allow me to begin by reading to you the Secretary-General’s message for this International Day:

“The theme of this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty -- “Human Rights and Dignity of People Living in Poverty” -- recalls the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60 years ago. The Declaration affirms that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family”.

Sixty years on, hundreds of millions of people are still deprived of basic human rights such as food, housing, education, and decent working conditions. Those forced to live in poverty often face social exclusion, discrimination and disempowerment. Poverty robs the poor of their human dignity.

Our efforts to eradicate poverty must pay close attention to respect for human rights and the dignity of all. They must go beyond basic material needs and address discrimination and inequality. That means ensuring that all poor people have access to the resources they need -- land, capital, knowledge and skills -- to escape poverty. It means empowering the poor to effectively participate in decision-making and other activities that directly affect their lives.

Current economic uncertainties make this task even more challenging, but also even more important. Rising food and fuel prices, and the global financial crisis, are threatening to negate the progress made to reduce poverty and hunger in many parts of the world. An estimated 100 million people are now at risk of falling into poverty.

At the high-level event last September, Governments reconfirmed their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals. Many pledged new resources to bolster food security, eradicate disease, ensure access to water and sanitation and manage the financial crisis. These commitments are not a matter of charity, but an obligation in the pursuit of human rights for all. If we fail to keep our promise on the Millennium Development Goals, we create the conditions for greater human misery and global insecurity.

Poverty will not be eradicated without due respect for human rights. On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let us guarantee the inherent dignity and equal rights of all members of the human family and strive for a world free of poverty and injustice.”

That was the end of the Secretary-General’s message.

It is indeed very appropriate that this year’s observance is dedicated to the link between poverty and human rights. Because poverty is – at once – a cause and a consequence of the denial of human rights. Protection and promotion of economic, social and cultural rights, along with civil and political rights, is an essential element in the fight against poverty. With a focus on human rights, the solutions are more likely to be durable in the longer term.

Dear Friends:

Whenever we discuss poverty, we always quote numbers. It is estimated that close to 1.4 billion people live on less than a dollar a day. We refer to the “bottom billion”. With recent increases in food prices, it is estimated that another 2 billion will be undernourished. And while these figures are important because they drive home to us the sheer scale of the challenge, we must not forget that behind the statistics lie the lives and the unfulfilled hopes of human beings – of women, men and children across the world.

Every person living in degrading poverty is a fellow human being. And this Day is their opportunity to have their voices heard. The views and vision of those living in poverty must be integrated in our efforts for a lasting impact. I therefore appreciate that we will hear testimonies from people who are directly affected. They will take us beyond the abstract data. They will bear witness to the distress and despair of the vicious cycle of poverty, but also to their fortitude and their determination to break this cycle. It is indeed a pleasure to have you with us.

Observing the International Day here in Geneva serves to emphasize that poverty is indeed a global challenge. It affects countries, communities and individuals everywhere. The food crisis, rising energy prices and the continuing economic uncertainty, and their combined impact on our efforts to realize the Millennium Development Goals, have only underlined that a global response is indispensable. The international community in Geneva plays an important role in formulating and implementing that response.

Geneva is a practical platform where all stakeholders – Governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector – can come together. The wider United Nations family here is engaged – both at policy and operational levels – on all eight Millennium Development Goals. And as the “human rights capital” of the world, Geneva is particularly well-placed to situate poverty reduction efforts firmly within a human rights framework. This International Day is therefore also an important occasion to recognize these efforts and to encourage that they be strengthened. We can only confront poverty effectively through inclusive partnerships. This is why we appreciate organizing this International Day – as we do every year – in partnership with ATD Fourth World. This observance is itself a demonstration of the value of these partnerships.

As the Secretary-General emphasized in his message, it is well within our reach to overcome poverty. I thank you all for being here today to help send that message – loud and clear.

Thank you very much.