Commemorative Stone in honour of victims of extreme poverty

OCTOBER 17, 1987,
ON THIS DAY, DEFENDERS OF HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS
FROM EVERY CONTINENT GATHERED HERE.
THEY PAID HOMAGE TO THE VICTIMS OF HUNGER,
IGNORANCE AND VIOLENCE. THEY AFFIRMED
THEIR CONVICTION THAT HUMAN MISERY IS NOT INEVITABLE.
THEY PLEDGED THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH ALL PEOPLE WHO,
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, STRIVE TO ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY.

“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.”

F. Joseph Wresinski

On 17th October 1987, in the presence of 100,000 people from diverse social backgrounds and many countries, Father Joseph Wresinski, founder of ATD Fourth World, unveiled a commemorative stone in the Trocadero Human Rights Plaza in Paris.