ATD Fourth World International’s Annual General Meeting (AGM)* took place in June 2026. Attendees met in person over five days in two locations: ATD Fourth World’s International Centre in Méry-sur-Oise (France) and in Villarceaux (France).

The AGM does not always convene in person, but when it does, it creates important opportunities for delegates to meet one another and engage in in-depth discussions, assessing and reflecting on ATD Fourth World’s global actions and its commitment to those living in extreme poverty.

Who gathered in Méry-sur-Oise and Villarceaux?

The AGM welcomed ATD Fourth World delegates representing their national teams from: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Ireland, Madagascar, Mauritius, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Senegal, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Additionally, the AGM also welcomed members of the International Committee for October 17 for a special joint session.

Coming together to share knowledge and experience

Creating, building and nurturing relationships is a foundational principle of ATD Fourth World’s governance model. Through these relationships, ATD Fourth World seeks to build shared responsibility and at the heart of this is a commitment to recognising and valuing the unique skills and knowledge of all people.

The meeting of the AGM offers its delegates a unique opportunity to reaffirm this commitment, understand the challenges ATD Fourth World faces today, and re-examine ATD Fourth World’s priorities, governance model, and financial sustainability.

Most delegates, thanks to their long-standing presence and commitment in their countries, have developed a deep understanding of their communities. This enables them to offer a unique and enriching perspective on issues and realities important to understanding extreme poverty in their countries.

In the first session, the new International Leadership Team (ILT) — Chantal Consolini Thiébaud, Joëlle Girard, and Daniel Marineau — introduced themselves to the delegates. Chantal pointed out that one of the core responsibilities of the ILT is to ensure “the unity of ATD Fourth World in all its diversity and its evolution: staying faithful to its history, to its founder, and to those living in extreme poverty.”

National delegates also took to the floor to introduce themselves and to share their first-hand knowledge and experience of the situations faced by people living in poverty in their respective countries.

Maria Dacheva, an ally in Bulgaria on the General Assembly

The knowledge they have acquired often surpasses the ability of official statistics (when they do exist) to capture the true nature of poverty among the most isolated and marginalised communities.

• Marie Zoé from Madagascar described the state of uncertainty in her country following a military coup, and its resulting impact on those experiencing poverty.
• Louis Delva (Daddy) described the dire state of lawlessness in Haiti that has resulted in hundreds of deaths and frequent acts of violence in just the first quarter of 2026.

During the meetings, national delegates gathered in small groups to assess and discuss topics such as social and environmental justice, inclusive mobilisation, gender and poverty, youth participation, and how to build and sustain an alliance across sectors of society. Participants shared and discussed the outcomes of these group meetings in designated plenary sessions.

Activities, events, actions and outcomes

ATD Fourth World International’s 2025 Annual Report was co-presented at the Annual General Meeting meeting by Bonfils Irakiza Maniraho, Jan Swiatek and Maïlys Biscay of the International Policy and Advocacy Office. The Report showcased the many diverse projects, events, and activities undertaken by ATD Fourth World and reflected on their impact. The key theme of the Report for 2025 was “Ensuring Respect and Effective Support for Families”, which underscored the key role of families — in their diverse forms — in addressing, and supporting pathways out of, poverty.

The Report also described two important initiatives: the first was a meeting held in September 2025, which aimed to build a shared vision for ATD Fourth World teams in the Latin America and Caribbean region. The meeting focused on developing a new planning programme, led by the new regional delegation.

The second initiative took place in the United States, where ATD Fourth World USA launched an intensive and inclusive process of reflection, recommitment, and reimagination through ‘Strategic Renewal Dialogues’ (SRDs) held between September 2024 and April 2025. As a result of this process, ATD Fourth World USA has formulated new statements describing its shared mission, vision, and core values.

Among the highlights of the AGM was the joint session with the International Committee for October 17. The International Committee — created in 2008, with former President of Mauritius Cassam Uteem as its founding President — is a critical component of ATD Fourth World’s mission to advocate against the unacceptable abuse of the human rights of people living in poverty and to promote the policies and actions urgently needed to end poverty everywhere.

The International Committee unveiled its Villarceaux Declaration, which was the outcome of intense discussion and reflection among its members. A key article of the Declaration challenges the mischaracterisation of people in poverty as “a problem to be solved”. It demands a shift from the tokenistic participation of people with experience of poverty in human rights discourse to genuine, inclusive deliberation that recognises them as both rights holders and knowledge holders. The declaration also challenges governments to urgently address unprecedented inequality, discrimination and violence which have been responsible for creating and perpetuating extreme poverty.

One of the most memorable moments was when General Assembly delegates, together with members of the International Committee, visited the Commemorative Stone at the Place du Trocadéro, as well as Noisy-le-Grand, the birthplace of ATD Fourth World. For many delegates and members of the International Committee, this was their first visit to these seminal locations in ATD Fourth World’s history. At the Commemorative Stone, Olivier Morzelle, President of ATD Fourth World France, led a brief and inspiring ceremony to express ATD Fourth World’s solidarity and commitment to defending the human rights of people living in extreme poverty.

Moving forward

The Annual General Meeting closed on a high note. Delegates agreed that despite the uncertainties in the world today, ATD Fourth World’s clear commitment to working in solidarity with those living in extreme poverty guarantees that sustainable change is possible.

Emma Poma, an ATD Fourth World activist representing Bolivia, delivered a message of hope:

“By coming together with others […], little by little, we understand that we have dignity!”

Chantal Consolini Thiébaud spoke for everyone when she observed in her closing remarks to the General Assembly that “[a]ll of us are here because of encounters with people living in poverty, because we have been transformed, because we look at the world differently, because we understand that action starts from and with those living in extreme poverty. These are not theories, nor are they dogmas; this alliance is rooted in experience, in the lives of the most marginalised. We are no longer the same, and we want the world to no longer be the same, because we want the participation of those living in poverty.”

* In the ATD Fourth World bylaws, this is referred to as the General Assembly