UN Celebrates International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The International Day of the Eradication of Poverty was celebrated by the United Nations on October 17, 2013. This year's celebration is focused on "Working together towards a world without discrimination: Building on the experience and knowledge of people in extreme poverty." Fighting poverty is the highest priority of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 development agenda. According to UN, more than 1.2 billion people are still in severe poverty worldwide. Science experts have been lobbying for biotechnology as one of the important tools to combat hunger as well as malnutrition.

In UN's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon message about the event, he said that "If we are to realize the future we want for all, we must hear and heed the calls of the marginalized. For the last year, the UN has been doing just that by spearheading an unprecedented global conversation on the world people want. That dialogue must continue – and lead to the active and meaningful inclusion of people living in poverty -- as we chart a course to ending poverty everywhere. Together, we can build a sustainable world of prosperity and peace, justice and equity – a life of dignity for all."

For more information about the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, visit http://www.un.org/en/events/povertyday/.