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 HUMAN BEINGS 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.”
JOSEPH WRESINSKI
Translation of the text on the Commemorative Stone in Honour of Victims of Extreme Poverty laid on the Liberties and Human Rights Plaza in Paris, France. This stone has been replicated in public places in many countries including Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, Germany, Philippines, Portugal Reunion Island, Switzerland, and the United States of America.
On 17th October 1987, in the presence of 100,000 people from diverse social backgrounds and many countries, Joseph Wresinski, founder of ATD Fourth World, unveiled a commemorative stone in the Trocadero Human Rights Plaza in Paris.
Since then the commemorative stone has become a gathering point for people from all walks of life. They gather, sometimes on the 17th of each month, to show their solidarity with people in extreme poverty around the world and to make a personal commitment to join forces with them to end poverty and social exclusion.
English
From 155 countries
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