(To be checked against delivered speech)

Statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

“Poverty is an insult to human dignity”, said Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October.

“As we mark this International Day, let us remember that Freedom from Want is one of the essential human freedoms. Let us remember millions of people in the world, including Europe, who are trapped in the vicious circle of poverty and exclusion and are in urgent need of our help to break free of despair.

Poverty is an unacceptable denial of human rights – the right to education, to non-discrimination, to health care, to decent housing, to social protection. As we build a better and fairer Europe, it is a scandal to see our fellow Europeans being subjected to the degrading treatment which results from poverty, forced to sell their organs, exploited sexually, trafficked like slaves.

Poverty and social exclusion walk hand in hand. This is why Council of Europe action against poverty is based on its Strategy for Social Cohesion.

International organisations, national governments and NGOs have a shared responsibility for building a fair and cohesive society, void of poverty and exclusion which are not acceptable in Europe of the 21st century. We must all join forces to turn into reality the dream of Father Joseph Wresinski, founder of ATD Quart Monde thanks to whom there is this International Day – his dream that the day will come when we will no longer need a Day for the Eradication of Poverty. But in the meantime, our Organisation will continue to defend a vision of Europe where all men and women are treated fairly and equally, and where their dignity is fully respected.”