International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Today, 17 October, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed, a date proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of the situation of millions of people living in extreme poverty and to reaffirm the global commitment to social justice, dignity, and equal opportunities.

Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon: it is not limited to a lack of income, but also encompasses social exclusion, lack of access to education, health care, housing, and opportunities to live with dignity.

At the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, we work every day to accompany people living in situations of poverty and exclusion and to eradicate the causes that generate them. True social justice is born of a commitment to the dignity of every person. In the words of our founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam: “Charity must not consist solely in giving alms, but in helping the poor to emerge from their misery.”

Inspired by this message, Vincentians believe that eradicating poverty is not only about alleviating shortages, but about transforming structures, promoting justice, and accompanying each person’s journey with hope, closeness, and Christian commitment.