UNITED NATIONS, Oct 16 (APP):For the first time in two decades, extreme poverty is on the rise, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said in a sharp message released on the eve of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.<\/p>\n
Describing current levels of poverty as \u201ca moral indictment of our times\u201d, the UN chief said that the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on economies and societies around the world, with some 120 million more people falling into poverty last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lopsided recovery is further deepening inequalities between the Global North and South\u201d, Guterres said. \u201cSolidarity is missing in action \u2013 just when we need it most.\u201d
\nThe fight against poverty must also be a battle against inequality, he said.<\/p>\n
The UN chief said that vaccine inequality has enabled COVID variants to mutate and \u201crun wild\u201d, condemning the world to millions more deaths, and prolonging an economic slowdown that could cost trillions of dollars.
\n\u201cWe must end this outrage, tackle debt distress and ensure recovery investment in countries with the greatest need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Guterres outlined a three-pronged global recovery approach to \u2018Building Forward Better\u2019 that begins with stronger political will and partnerships to achieve universal social protection by 2030.<\/p>\n
For a transformative recovery to end the endemic structural disadvantages and inequalities that perpetuated poverty even before the pandemic, the world must invest in job re-skilling for the growing green economy, according to the UN chief.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we must invest in quality jobs in the care economy, which will promote greater equality and ensure everyone receives the dignified care they deserve,\u201d he said.
\nRecovery must be inclusive so as not to leave so many behind, \u201cincreasing the vulnerability of already marginalized groups, and pushing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ever further out of reach,\u201d Guterres added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number of women in extreme poverty far outpaces that of men. Even before the pandemic, the 22 richest men in the world had more wealth than all the women in Africa \u2013 and that gap has only grown,\u201d he upheld, adding, \u201cwe cannot recover with only half our potential.”<\/p>\n
Economic investments must target women entrepreneurs; formalize the informal sector; focus on education, social protection, universal childcare, health care and decent work; and bridge the digital divide, including its deep gender dimension, he said.<\/p>\n
To build a resilient, decarbonized and net-zero world, the recovery must be sustainable, which was the UN chief\u2019s third point.
\nHe urged everyone to \u201clisten far more\u201d to those living in poverty, address indignities and \u201cdismantle barriers\u201d to inclusion, in every society.
\n\u201cToday and every day, let us join hands to end poverty and create a world of justice, dignity and opportunity for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his message, UN Development Programme (UNDP) chief Achim Steiner spoke of numerous initiatives underway to help communities to Build Forward Better.
\nAgainst the backdrop that \u201cpeople living in poverty are bearing the brunt of changing climate\u201d, he pointed to UNDP\u2019s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 as a \u201cbold pledge to lift 100 million people out of multidimensional poverty.”<\/p>\n
Describing access to renewable energy as a \u201cvital lever\u201d to creating decent green jobs while driving down carbon emissions, Achim echoed UNDP\u2019s ambitious commitment to work with partners to provide 500 million additional people with access to clean, affordable energy by 2025.<\/p>\n
“Efforts like the UNDP Climate Promise are vital, helping 120 countries to reduce emissions while boosting the resilience of vulnerable communities” and also “helping to end poverty and shaping a future that will balance the needs of both people and planet,” he said.<\/p>\n
The International Day can be traced back to 17 October 1987, when more than 100,000 people gathered at the Trocad\u00e9ro in Paris \u2013 where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948 \u2013 to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger.<\/p>\n
They proclaimed poverty a violation of human rights, affirmed the need to ensure respect for these rights, and inscribed their commitments on a commemorative stone \u2013 replicas of which have been unveiled around the world, including in the garden of UN Headquarters in New York.<\/p>\n
Since then, people have gathered every year on 17 October to show their solidarity with the poor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 16 (APP):For the first time in two decades, extreme poverty is on the rise, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said in a sharp message released on the eve of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Describing current levels of poverty […]<\/p>\n
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