Resolution 17/196 of the UN Assembly, passed on December 22 in 1992, declared October 17th as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Yet here we are 21 years later and still poverty is as great a problem now as it was then. Across the world millions of individuals and families live in poverty, and, it’s not just something that affects those who live overseas. In their latest report, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report that 6 million people in the UK are facing deep poverty, 1.5 million more than 20 years ago, and of course there are many more who are in poverty.
For 2023 the theme is “Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting dignity in practice for all” This year’s theme calls for universal access to decent work and social protection as a means to uphold human dignity for all people, and to emphasize that decent work must empower people, provide fair wages and safe working conditions, and fundamentally recognize the inherent value and humanity of all workers.
Here at NewStarts we try our best to be a good employer, but we also try and support all of those who struggle, despite that fact they are employed, looking for employment, in unpaid work such as carers at home or unable to work or retired from work. We want to ensure that individuals and families have dignity in their lives; That they are not made to feel inadequate or feel scared about the present and future because of their circumstances. We know that we only scratch the surface of the problem and whilst much of our work seeks to ensure that people have improved foundations on which to build their lives, some of our work, like the foodbank, is really only a sticking plaster. As an organisation we want to see an end to poverty and deep poverty. We want to live and be in communities where everyone is valued, everyone is able to be who they are meant to be and where no one lives in poverty.