Call to Action
Ending Extreme Poverty: A Road to Peace
In May 2006, defenders of human rights from four continents and diverse backgrounds met in Montreal, Canada. In partnership with human rights organizations, trade unions, governments and the United Nations, they invite you to add your voice to a Call to Action.
Inspired by a United Nations resolution aimed to reinforce the impact of October 17, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Call to Action aims to gather ONE MILLION SIGNATURES by October 17, 2007 when it will be presented to the United Nations.
- We are in solidarity with all those who are fighting throughout the world to eliminate extreme poverty.
- We want to contribute to promoting respect for the dignity of all people, and their effective access to human rights.
- We want to join efforts to enable those living in extreme poverty and exclusion to participate fully in their societies, including the commemoration of October 17th, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
- We ask all members of civil society, local and national authorities, and the United Nations to:
- Consider those in extreme poverty as the first to take action in the fight against poverty;
- Ensure that people living in poverty fully participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and programs that concern them and that are inspired by a commitment to a world without poverty - a world where the rights to family life, decent work, social, cultural and political participation are respected;
- Support events organized each October 17th to ensure that the participation of people with direct experience of poverty be at the heart of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty;
- Participate in an ongoing, long-term dialogue with people who, in refusing to accept extreme poverty, are building peace.