17 October – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty | #EndPoverty
17 October marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Now, more than ever, the situation calls for urgent action. The multiple relentless crises; the cost of living and energy crises are far from being solved, exacerbating the pre-existing social injustices affecting groups in vulnerable situations the most. Zoom in on the various national reports and check out our members’ Poverty Watches 2023.
EAPN campaign and activities
EAPN’s campaign focuses on several key messages to highlight how the current cost of living crisis affects the lives of people experiencing poverty. Check out our visual campaign below.
Members’ news and activities
Croatian Anti-Poverty Network The Croatian Anti-Poverty Network joins the EAPN campaign and shares several visuals. Together we advocate for strong policies as poverty and social exclusion are a denial of fundamental human rights.
Macedonian Anti-Poverty Platform (MAPP) Ahead of 17 October, the Macedonian Anti-Poverty Platform (MAPP) organised a panel discussion on the topic “Living with dignity or survival?”, together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) and the Association for Inclusive and Sustainable Development (SIGA). Branimir Jovanovic, Economic Researcher from SIGA, presented his study on the impact of inflation on poverty. The MAPP contributed to this study with a qualitative analysis of the situation and statements from people with experience in poverty.
“When we buy, we look at price before quality, we take what is cheaper.”
“I know how I live, I cut back on meals and buy products only on sale.”
This was followed by a commentary panel to which Vice Prime Minister for Economic Affairs (Fatmir Bytyqy), a Representative of the Union of Trade Unions (Ivan Peshevski) and the Organisation of Employers (Angel Dimitrov) were invited and participated. The event generated great interest among civil society representatives and the media and gave the issue wide visibility.
“I tell you personally, I have cut back on everything. No sneakers, no t-shirts, no jeans, nothing. As long as my children have enough to eat and have enough left for school. For me and my husband, nothing.”
Biljana Dukovska, President of the Macedonian Anti-Poverty Platform, hosted the panel discussion on the topic “Living with dignity or survival?” EAPN Greece (Hellenic Anti-Poverty Network) EAPN Greece is sharing several testimonies of people experiencing poverty. Together we are sounding the alarm as the cost of living crisis disproportionately impacts low-income households who already have to make impossible choices between energy, rent, health and food.
EAPN Portugal 
Mobilising, raising awareness and getting involved: EAPN Portugal promotes a week of activities, at regional and national level, to draw attention to the 17th of October – The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and Social Exclusion. On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2023, EAPN Portugal is organising more than 130 different activities across the country with various local partners. These initiatives expect to promote awareness raising and give visibility of actions to fight poverty and social exclusion by calling for participation and activism. Thus, all the activities involve different areas and sectors of civil society and reach various target groups – in particular, people experiencing poverty and/or social exclusion. The aim is to mobilise Portuguese society, raising awareness of the phenomena of poverty and social exclusion as a violation of human rights. The activities will take place from 16 to 24 October. 
Programme and more info here. EAPN Spain On 17 October, EAPN Spain is holding a conference, coinciding with the commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, to address the challenges to combat poverty and social exclusion. The event will be opened by the President of EAPN Spain and EAPN-Europe, Carlos Susías, and will continue with a space for dialogue in which people experiencing poverty, representatives of the Third Sector, academics and policy makers will discuss the current socio-economic context. The day will end with the reading of the Manifesto of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. In addition, during the event, the XIII Report on “El Estado de la Pobreza” (‘The State of Poverty’) will be presented. The report is an up-to-date and in-depth analysis of data and indicators of poverty and social exclusion, reflecting the impact of recent crises – including the rise in inflation and the need for housing – the scope of social and economic policies on the issue, and the protective measures role of the state.
“In Spain, poverty, social exclusion and inequality are profound and multidimensional problems. In recent decades, poverty and exclusion rates have remained high and constant, which is evidence of a problem of a structural nature resulting from the system of organisation of society, subject, in turn, to the current political, economic and cultural frame of reference. The consequences of this problem are aggravated in contexts of crisis, such as those experienced in recent years, and expose, even more so, the deficiencies and vulnerabilities of the social model.”
