World poverty stone unveiled in Dublin

A commemorative stone to mark International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been unveiled in Dublin today.

The stone, which is situated near to the Famine memorial on Customs House Quay, was unveiled by Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello.

The commemorative stone was commissioned by Dublin City Council and Dublin Docklands Authority and is inscribed with words from Joseph Wresinski, founder of the international human rights organisation ATD Fourth World.

The words - “Whenever men and women are condemned to live in poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights are respected is our solemn duty” - were first inscribed on a commemorative stone laid on October

17th, 1987, on the Human Rights Plaza in Paris where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had been signed.

Since then the same words have been used on more than 30 similar commemorative pieces around the world including the UN headquarters in New York and the European Parliament building in Brussels.

The text on the Dublin stone is engraved in Irish, English and French, and the stone was sculpted by Irish sculptor, Stuart McGrath.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted 17th October as its International Day for Eradication of Poverty in 1992, and the day is now observed in more than 100 countries to highlight the struggles faced by poor people throughout the world.

Speaking at the unveiling of the stone this morning, Cllr Costello said the erection of the stone so close to the Famine memorial would "link the struggles of Irish people living in poverty today with the struggles of the past".

"It will serve as a reminder to Dublin’s citizens that poverty knows no borders, is timeless, enduring, and is a global issue," she added.

Many of the world's leading crusaders against hunger have today voiced frustration that the global financial crisis had overshadowed a food crisis tipping millions toward starvation.

The World Bank predicts that high food and fuel prices will increase the number of malnourished people in the world by 44 million this year to reach a total of 967 million. Economists have also warned that the world's poor would be the most vulnerable to a global economic downturn.

Combat Poverty marked International Day for the Eradication of Poverty by highlighting the number of people experiencing difficulties in Ireland.

“There are currently 300,000 people in Ireland living in consistent poverty. This means they are deprived of basic necessities, such as adequate heat, food and clothing. Over one-third of those living in consistent poverty are under the age of 16. Clearly, the Government has a lot to do if it is to meet its own target of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016," said Kevin O’Kelly, acting director of Combat Poverty

Mr. O’Kelly said the Budget announced earlier this week failed to demonstrate the type of radical thinking needed to eliminate consistent poverty.

“Unfortunately, last Tuesday’s Budget threatens to undermine the progress that has been made in recent years towards meeting poverty targets,” he said. “The income levy and VAT increases, for example, will hit low-income households the hardest, while the welfare increases are not sufficient to meet the rising costs associated with inflation.

Other activities being held across Ireland to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty this year include the launch of a photographic exhibition from the Donegal Travellers' Project, an art project demonstrating the causes of poverty in the Connemara Gaeltacht and a public seminar and children’s exhibition in Tipperary town.

Additional reporting: Reuters