Once again this year, the ceremony was held on 15 October 2025 on the forecourt of the Palais de l'Europe, in front of the commemorative plaque symbolising the rejection of extreme poverty. The ceremony, opened by Gerhard Ermischer, President of the Conference of INGOs (CINGO), brought together representatives of the Council of Europe, international organisations, CINGO members and individuals sharing their experiences of poverty. All reaffirmed their commitment to social justice – particularly access to healthcare – and respect for human dignity.
Among the speakers, Olivier De Schutter, member of the European Committee of Social Rights and United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said: "Recognising individuals living in poverty as rights holders is an empowering approach that mitigates stigma and ensures that policy solutions are based on their lived experiences."
In his closing remarks, Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, reiterated the key point that "Poverty is not a personal failure, but a systemic failure, a denial of dignity and human rights."
To further mark this commemoration, the CINGO Committee for the European Social Charter organised a webinar on 16 October 2025 on social rights and the European Union's new anti-poverty strategy.
