21 December 2023 12:00 am Views - 358
Spiritual revelation says that when we bear each other’s burdens, we will fulfill the law of the Truth. We need to deeply ponder on this insight as we consider how and in what way we could assist in the vital area of poverty alleviation.
According to the United Nations, this issue should be based on the theme “Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting Dignity in Practice for All”. The world body says, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, celebrated annually, aims to promote understanding and dialogue between people living in poverty and the wider society. This year’s theme draws on first-hand testimonials showing that those trapped in extreme poverty often work long, grueling hours in dangerous, unregulated conditions but still cannot earn enough income to adequately support themselves and their families.
This year’s theme calls for universal access to decent work and social protection as a means to uphold human dignity for all people, and to emphasize that decent work must empower people, provide fair wages and safe working conditions, and fundamentally recognize the inherent value and humanity of all workers. Similarly, universal social protection is urgently needed to guarantee income security for everyone, prioritizing society’s most vulnerable members. The theme is also a call to political leaders and policymakers to use human dignity as the guiding compass in all decision-making processes, to ensure the advancement of fundamental human rights and social justice over the pursuit of corporate profits.
The UN says, strong global partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society organizations are vital in achieving equitable development and ensuring no one is excluded or left behind. Therefore, this year’s observance is a chance to stand in solidarity with people living in poverty, truly listen to their daily struggles, and renew commitments to create a just economy focused on protecting human and environmental wellbeing over maximizing financial gains. The ultimate goal is to eliminate poverty entirely by creating the conditions for everyone to live with dignity.
In a world characterized by an unprecedented level of economic development, technological means and financial resources, that millions of people are living in extreme poverty is a moral outrage. Poverty is not solely an economic issue, but rather a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses a lack of both income and the basic capabilities to live in dignity.
People living in poverty experience many interrelated and mutually reinforcing deprivations that prevent them from realizing their rights, perpetuating their poverty. These include: dangerous work conditions, unsafe housing, the lack of nutritious food, unequal access to justice, the lack of political power and limited access to health care
The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to October 17, 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. These convictions are inscribed on a commemorative stone unveiled on this day. Since then, people of all backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered every year on October 17th to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with the poor. Replicas of the commemorative stone have been unveiled around the world, and serve as a gathering place to celebrate the Day. One such replica is located in the garden of the United Nations Headquarters, and is the site of the annual commemoration organized by the United Nations Secretariat in New York.
October 17 presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of the poor themselves has been at the center of the Day’s celebrations since its very beginning. The commemoration of October 17th also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.
In Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the badly divided Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Government need to unite with opposition parties to give priority to poverty alleviation and persuade the poor people themselves to take part in this vital move. Chinese philosopher Confucius has said, in a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of; in a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of. The venerated Mother Teresa has asked us to reflect on the fact that loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.