17 October 2014 is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty / Journée internationale pour l'élimination de la pauvreté

The Millennium Development Goals, agreed in 2000, set the target of reducing extreme poverty rates by half by the 2015 deadline. In fact, the deadline was beaten by five years. However, poverty remains a tragic reality for far too many women, men and children across the world. This translates into daily lives of hunger, deprivation and disease, undermining human rights and dignity, and throws a shadow over the development of entire societies.

In 2013, IAP held its triennial conference on 'Science for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development', hosted by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences in Rio de Janeiro. The Brazilian Academy is now planning for a follow-up conference to develop strategies to engage science academies in the global effort to eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development. The forthcoming conference, which will take place in Manaus, Brazil, from 3-5 December 2014, will aim to address those critical global issues that most severely impact the poor.

Through this conference and other similar initiatives, IAP is mobilizing its member academies to contribute to the design of the Post 2015 Development Agenda and subsequent implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals that are currently being finalised.

Follow the links for more information on UNESCO's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and on the IAP Conference on Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development - a Call for Action, 3-5 December 2014, Manaus, Brazil.