The Future of the Planet without Poverty and Discrimination

“The Future of the Planet without Poverty and Discrimination,” a thematic exhibition timed to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, runs in the documents of international organizations hall (207g), from October 15 to November 11.

This Day was established by the UN General Assembly on December 22, 1992 (resolution 47/196) and is observed annually on October 17. The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17 October 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honor the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. Since then, people of all backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered every year on October 17th to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with the poor.

Since the 1990s, significant advances have been made. Thanks to the actions of political leaders, inclusive growth and international cooperation, nearly a billion people have been able to get out of poverty. However, 783 million people, or 8 % of the world population, still live in extreme poverty and is struggling to fulfill the most basic needs like health, education etc. High poverty rates are often found in small, fragile and conflict-affected countries. Six million undernourished children won’t live to be 50. Using the World Bank definition of 1,90$/day, one fourth of the world’s population remain in extreme poverty surviving on less than 1$ a day.

Poverty is not solely an economic issue, but rather a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses a lack of both income and the basic capabilities to live in dignity. The eradication of poverty in all its forms is Goal 1 of the Sustainable Development Goals. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of the poor themselves has been at the center of the Day's celebration since its very beginning. The commemoration of October 17th also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.

The offered exhibition includes more than 60 publications, mostly documents of international organizations: (UN, European Union, Council of Europe, etc) in Russian and English: books, periodicals, UN mimeographed materials, brochures, booklets.

Thematic areas:

• Ending extreme poverty and hunger.
• Human rights and poverty.
• Labor as a means of alleviating poverty.
• Poverty and sustainable development: assisting least developed countries and countries with economies in transition.
• The poverty reduction strategy in the Republic of Belarus.

The exhibition will be interesting to students, undergraduates, teachers of socio-economic disciplines, political and public figures, specialists in world economy, international law, world politics, international relations and human rights, and social workers.

Useful links

• The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
• Millennium Development Goals
• Millennium Campaign
• Promote Sustainable Development
• Department of Economic and Social Affairs
• Overcoming Extreme Poverty
• United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20
• Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
• First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty

The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the library’s opening hours.
Admission is by library card or by ticket of the library's social and cultural center. Information and tickets may be obtained at the registration desk.

For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 28.

Official Documents Service Department