Poverty Eradication

Voice of the Voiceless International participates actively struggling to eradicate extreme poverty, improve the living standard and human dignity of all impoverished people, and address the many effects of poverty, with a special focus on migration, anti-human trafficking, internally displaced, empowerment of marginalized groups such as indigenous, communities, girls and women, education of children, and working with people living with HIV-AIDS.

“In the light of the International Bill of Rights, poverty may be defined as a human condition characterized by sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. While acknowledging that there is no universally accepted definition, the Committee endorses this multi-dimensional understanding of poverty, which reflects the indivisible and interdependent nature of all human rights.” (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: E/C.12/2001/10)

“A sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil cultural, economic, political and social rights.” (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: E/C.12/2001/10)

United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1 calls for eradication of extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day by 2030. The action agenda for attaining this goal focuses on ensuring social protection for the poor, access to basic services and supporting people harmed by climate-related disasters.

Poverty affects every aspect of life

• 80% of the world population lives on less than $10 a day.
• About 1 in 5 persons in developing regions lives on less than $1.25 per day. The overwhelming majority of people living on less than $1.25 a day belong to Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa regions.
• High poverty rates are often found in small, fragile and conflict-affected countries.
• Most poor people remain outside social protection systems, especially in low-income countries. Of the entire population, only 1 out of 5 receive any type of social protection in low-income countries, compared with 2 out of 3 in upper-middle-income countries.
• Every 10 seconds, a child dies from hunger-related diseases.
• 1 in 4 children under age five in the world has inadequate height for his or her age.

Poverty is gendered

• Only 28% of employed women are effectively protected through contributory and non-contributory maternity cash benefits.
• 75 per cent of domestic workers 15 and older are estimated to work in informal employment situations (ILO)
• Every year, worldwide, 303,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth, 2.7 million babies die during the first 28 days of life and 2.6 million babies are stillborn (UNICEF)

Poverty eradication is the greatest global challenge and requires collaborative partnership at national and international levels. VOV INTERNATIONAL is committed to work in achieving this goal through collaboration with Government and non-governmental organizations at different levels especially at the grassroots through its members.

Resources

• Transforming our World: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform -Poverty Eradication
• The Commission on Human Rights’s Independent Expert on extreme poverty
• The Sub-Commission on Human Rights’s Ad hoc Working Group on the implementation of existing human rights norms and standards in the context of the fight against extreme poverty
• United Nations Development Group
• UNESCO Poverty Eradication
• Picture the Homeless

How can I help?

• Working with vulnerable communities in rural and urban areas, specially our focus groups – women and girls, indigenous communities, people living with HIV/AIDS, internally displaced, migrants and refugees, and other vulnerable persons.
• Celebrate the International Day for the Poverty Eradication on October 17 in your school, place of work or community.
• Educate yourself about the issues on 2030 Agenda of the UN and work with national and local governments, and interest groups.
• Contribute examples of best practices for VOV INTERNATIONAL International’s poverty eradication program.
• Partner with UN agencies on poverty reduction projects.
• Conduct research and provide grassroots input to support the policies on poverty eradication.
• Team up with VOV INTERNATIONAL to put on a workshop, roundtable, etc. centered on poverty eradication.
• Advocate at the national level for poverty eradication programs.
• Invite speakers to prayer group, classroom, church, community centre, etc.
• Find local development projects in your area to support tutoring centers, healthcare centers, housing development, etc.
• Mobilize communities to advocate that governments: help establish SDGs at the core of national poverty reduction plans; in financing in national budget, collaboration with Governments.