Eradicating Poverty

Published 29th October 2007, 3:28pm

The 17th October 2007 marks the 20th Anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The importance of the connection between the eradication of poverty and respect for human rights is a theme that is appropriate to return to as poverty remains a major obstacle to the full recognition of human rights.

More than one fifth of the world’s population still live in poverty, the effects of which include hunger, homelessness, lack of education and resources to fulfil basic human needs.

By the way of further example, did you know:

• Hunger: Over 840 million people around the world go hungry every day and more than half a billion are undernourished. Hunger and other related causes also kill approximately 34,000 children under 5 years old every day.
• Health: Over 2 million childhood deaths occur annually due to vaccine-preventable diseases, and 200 million children under the age of 5 suffer form malnutrition.
• Housing: Over 100 million people in the world have no housing; millions more face severe housing problems. Such persons live without adequate sanitation, with irregular electricity supply and little or no security. Millions more live in severely overcrowded conditions.
• Women: The UN’s World Food Project reports that 7 out of 10 of the world’s hungry are women and girls.

Poverty, however, is also evident when people are not able to achieve the standard of living that is usual for the community in which they live. As such, this is not just an issue that applies elsewhere in the world; human rights, including the right to education and the highest attainable standard of health, food and housing are dependent upon the eradication of poverty here in Cayman. October 17th therefore presents an opportunity to acknowledge the hardships of people living in these conditions, a chance for them to make their concerns heard and an opportunity for all States to resolve to eradicate poverty and improve the recognition of human rights for all persons.

If you would like to contact the HRC and express a view on human rights and poverty, please send your comments to committee@humanrights.ky. Alternatively, written correspondence can also be sent to PO Box 30664, Grand Cayman, KY1-1203.

For further information contact: Human Rights Committee