Every year on October 17, people and organisations from around the world come together to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. More than a day to raise awareness, October 17 is a time for solidarity and activism. It reminds us of a fundamental conviction: wherever people are condemned to live in poverty, human rights are violated, and everyone has a role to play in ensuring these rights are respected.

The 2026-2028 theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is ‘United for Peace and Human Rights’ and this year’s sub-theme is ‘Safe Homes for All’. These themes were selected following an international consultation with input from people experiencing poverty around the world and those working alongside them

A grassroots movement

The first International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was held on 17 October1987. On this day, more than 100,000 people gathered at the Place du Trocadéro in Paris, in response to Joseph Wresinski’s call to action. People from different social, cultural, and geographical backgrounds came together to pay tribute to the victims of hunger, violence, and poverty.

A commemorative stone was unveiled bearing a message that has become a cornerstone of October 17:

“Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty.”

These words are a reminder that poverty is a human rights violation, and that it is our duty to end it. The spirit of October 17 is also that people in poverty are not just victims of their circumstances, but those who are the first to struggle against poverty. They bring experiences, knowledge, and contributions essential to understanding and overcoming poverty. That is why their voices are at the forefront on this day. Since 1992, the United Nations has officially designated October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, through Resolution 47/196. Since then, gatherings have been organised throughout the world, and replicas of the commemorative stone have become symbolic meeting places.

Safe homes for all

The theme for 2026 centres on a simple yet fundamental question: what does it really mean to have a safe home?

Having a roof over one’s head is not always enough to constitute adequate housing. Housing means being able to live in a safe, stable, and sustainable environment, with access to essential services, water, and sanitation.

Homelessness is closely linked to access to other rights. When a person loses their home or lives in dangerous, overcrowded or insecure housing, this can also affect their access to healthcare, education, employment, safety, family life and civic participation.

Contributions to the international consultation on the October 17 theme highlighted this clearly: housing is about more than just four walls. It is linked to security, stability, health, a sense of belonging, social participation, and environmental protection.

Unsafe homes affect hundreds of millions of people. Furthermore, global data on homelessness remains incomplete. Those with the fewest resources are often the first to suffer the effects of housing crises, conflicts, disasters, discrimination, and inequality.
‘Safe homes for all’ affirms that everyone deserves access to the resources necessary to live a happy and fulfilling life. It is a matter of equity and human dignity. To restore the imbalance, we must recognise and look to those who live in poverty. They have irreplaceable knowledge of these realities and must be able to play a part in finding solutions.

Keeping the spirit of October 17 alive

For October 17 to retain significance, it is not enough simply to organise a few events each year. We must also preserve its spirit throughout the year and create spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together to take action as a community

This is one of the goals of the International Committee for October 17, established in 2008. Bringing together people from a variety of social and geographical backgrounds, the Committee promotes October 17 at local, national, and international levels. It also acts as a point of contact for those wishing to organise October 17 events or install a replica of the commemorative stone in their community

In addition, the International Committee for October 17 ensures that people experiencing poverty remain at the heart of these events and each year organises a consultation to select a theme for so everyone’s voice is heard.

The Committee also emphasises that October 17 must not become a forum where poverty is put on display as a spectacle or a platform reserved for politicians or institutional representatives. Nor is should it become a showcase for organisations. Above all, October 17 is a gathering centred on the dignity of all.