IPA

Fr Joseph Wresinski, founder of ATD Fourth World, who launched the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, was affectionately remembered by the UN Member States and the Civil Society during the commemoration of its 25th Anniversary at the UN. This year the conversation focused on ‘Ending the Violence of Extreme Poverty: Promoting Empowerment and Building Peace’. A strong message was ‘Extreme Poverty is Violence’ and people living in poverty need to contribute to building peace.

During the event, people living in poverty around the world spoke in person as well as through video. We were moved to tears when Mr Juan Fernandez Rua, Oakland, read the Real Poem authored by him, narrating the story of his late friend, helping each other to live a life of dignity. Children from New York City shared their stories of how music, art and meditation practices empower them to build peace. Ms Raquel Juarez from Guatemala said in her video message that she does not want handouts to get out of poverty but she pleaded for income-generating good jobs that will enable her to manage her home. The video message from a homeless person in Belgium, a developed country, surprised us a great deal. There were other video messages from Burkina Faso, Mauritius and Senegal. One of them said, ‘I am tired of fighting and I give up trying; the anger becomes silent; the silence is dark and I like to see the end of that tunnel.’

In the messages delivered by the various UN people during this event, we heard the following key words spoken at the IPA Assembly 2012 – Poverty is the greatest global challenge. Partnership is critical in addressing this greatest challenge and in bringing about transformational change. ‘Poverty eradication is an achievable goal’ stated the UN Secretary General. As global Presentation People, we indeed have the mandate and the privilege to join in this journey toward achieving the goal in partnership with others.

Noreen Perelli pbvm, Ann Pender pbvm, Dina Potter pbvm and Fatima Rodrigo pbvm
IPA Representatives at the United Nations

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For more information about ATD Fourth World go to www.atd-fourthworld.org/en.html.

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