The inspiration behind October 17 Joseph Wresinski was born to immigrant parents in a poor neighborhood of Angers, France. He grew up in a family that suffered from chronic poverty and social exclusion. In 1946, he was ordained as a priest and served in industrial and...
Understanding to act :
“I Bear Witness to You”
Joseph Wresinski’s Address Text available in german, portuguese. Joseph Wresinski’s Address October 17, 1987 Human rights Plaza, Paris. You, the millions and millionsof children, women and fatherswho have died from misery and hungerand whose legacy we hold.It is not...
Commemorative Stone in honour of victims of extreme poverty
OCTOBER 17, 1987,ON THIS DAY, DEFENDERS OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTSFROM EVERY CONTINENT GATHERED HERE.THEY PAID HOMAGE TO THE VICTIMS OF HUNGER,IGNORANCE AND VIOLENCE. THEY AFFIRMEDTHEIR CONVICTION THAT HUMAN MISERY IS NOT INEVITABLE.THEY PLEDGED THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH...
International Charter for 17 October
Extracts of the Charter available in German With the growing recognition given to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, there is a need and a responsibility to ensure that its message and deep meaning are respected and preserved, in accordance with the...
History of October 17
From 1987, the date of the first gathering, to the present day... On October 17, 1987, in reply to Father Joseph Wresinski's appeal, 100,000 defenders of human rights gathered together on the Trocadero Plaza in Paris to honour victims of hunger, violence, and...
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Summary of the 2026 Consultation
Every year, October 17 marks an international mobilisation to give a voice to those who struggle every day against poverty. The theme chosen for this day does not result from a decision made by a small group: it emerges from the words of hundreds of people, including...
International Poster for October 17, 2026
A consultation was launched in February, inviting people who face poverty and exclusion every day, as well as those standing in solidarity with them. As a result of this consultation, a main theme and sub-theme have been chosen for 2026. Below, you will find the...
Concept Note for October 17, 2026
The Concept Note from the International Committee for October 17 is ready! It is the result of the consultation held in February with the network of individuals, groups, associations, and organizations that make up the Forum on Overcoming Extreme Poverty. This...
Press Release: Villarceaux Declaration
AS BILLIONAIRES' WEALTH SOARS, INEQUALITY REACHES ALARMING LEVELS - LARGE PARTS OF HUMANITY SUFFER HUNGER AND MISERY — THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR OCTOBER 17 SOUND THE ALARM. VILLARCEAUX, FRANCE - 6th June 2026 — In a world where a tiny handful of individuals own...
Share Your Views on the Theme for October 17!
Following the exchange of ideas launched during the February 2025 consultation on the main theme for 2026 and 2027, we now invite you to share your views on the theme for October 17, 2026. This will include both a main theme, intended to run for three years (until...
17 October: Message from the President of the International Committee
Message of Solidarity 2025 October 17 is a day of togetherness and hope. On this day, our global family of “we the peoples”, children and adults, the young and the elderly in all our beautiful diversity from every corner of our planet — from tiny villages to big...
Let’s choose the theme for October 17, 2025, together!
Last year, we selected the umbrella theme for 2024 and 2025, which is "Ending social and institutional maltreatment". This year, we are pleased to launch the consultation process to choose the sub-theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in 2025....
Promoting Youth Participation in Local Governance
This is the second article in our series on the participation of people directly affected by extreme poverty. It discusses an advocacy document written by the members of the Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Bonassama (AJE), a member of our Forum based in Douala...
The Stakes of Participation
This is the first article in our series on the participation of people directly impacted by poverty. It highlights the consultation process for choosing the theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty from the perspective of a group in Kielce,...
Participation, so that every voice is heard and valued
In the coming weeks, we propose to publish on the Forum on Overcoming Extreme Poverty website a few articles on the participation of people in extreme poverty. This participation can be the driving force for profound and lasting change, benefiting society as a whole....
Media (photos/videos):
Dignity Voices
30 Podcasts to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty An amazing path that we can retrace with these podcasts, presented by the members of the International Committee for October 17. Listen to the...
A Cry for Peace
Bernard Monnet, Fourth World activist and member of the International 17 October Committee speaks at the public day during the 2022 meeting of the International 17 October Committee at the EESC. The stone sentence is a project and the participation of very poor people...
Presentation of the International Committee October 17
Aye Aye Win, President of the International Committee for October 17, explains in this video what is the purpose of the committee and what is its main mission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D9Gi7Bon3E