17 October 2011 | TUD
Eradicating Poverty
17 October is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and has been observed every year since 1993. The United Nations designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.
The theme for this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - “Working together out of poverty” - highlights the need for a truly global anti-poverty alliance, one in which both developed and developing countries participate actively.
Half of the world’s population resides in rural districts – over 800 million people. One of the principal messages of those fighting poverty is that any response to the challenges of sustainable development must not be to the detriment of those living in extreme poverty, but rather to ensure that they are at the heart of change.
COST Action A35 ‘Programme for the Study of European Rural Societies (PROGRESSORE)’ which ended in 2009 established guidelines for the future management of rural space. The Action has successfully led to a better understanding of current changes in the rural world, thereby providing decision-makers with the tools to make more defined choices for these societies.
The main objective of COST Action C27 ‘Sustainable Development Policies for Minor Deprived Urban Communities’ was to explore and improve the different policy options open to small, deprived, urban communities, geared to sustainable development. The Action aimed to provide these communities with the basic tools to integrate people in decision-making relating to sustainable development options.
Both of these Actions aim to provide the people with more power over their future – they aim to provide a set of tools to encourage and develop new models for possible partnerships, between local and regional authorities regarding landscape protection and economic (tourism) development.
The recent global financial crisis and the awareness that social services are a major vehicle of social and territorial cohesion have brought social services back on to the EU agenda. COST Action IS1102 ‘Social Services, Welfare State and Places. The restructuring of social services in Europe and its impacts on social and territorial cohesion and governance.’ is a direct response to this. The Action aims to identify issues for inclusion in a European social policy platform.
Some of the work of the COST Actions is aimed towards prevention – preventing these communities or regions from becoming poor; or at least halting the rise of poverty. Other Actions are focusing on providing the help needed to those already caught in the circle of poverty, by assisting local or national governments in policy and welfare agendas.
Information
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty Website
COST Actions
Programme for the Study of European Rural Societies (PROGRESSORE) - COST Action A35
Sustainable Development Policies for Minor Deprived Urban Communities - COST Action C27
Social Services, Welfare State and Places - COST Action IS1102
