Commemorating 25 years of 17th October in Ireland
Working Together with a Radical Hope and Decisive Action to End Poverty and Leave No One Behind.
2025 marks 25 years of Commemorating the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty in Ireland. This began with a small group of people meeting by the Famine Statues at Custom House Quay in Dublin. Later, a Human Rights and Poverty Stone was put in place by the Famine Statues engraved with the words “Whenever men, women and children are condemned to live in poverty their human rights are violated. To come together to ensure these rights are respected is our solemn duty”. Now groups across Ireland, through varied special actions, mark the End Poverty Day. The stone in Ireland is a place to gather in Dublin but is also a mark of solidarity with those living in hardship across Ireland and throughout the world where similar stones are in place.
The collective actions and understanding built over these years have given us strength and hope despite the persistent challenges and resistance to a brighter, more equal world.
Radical hope means to sustain hope despite extreme adversity. We sustain this hope not because of blind optimism but with a commitment to action and the belief that change is possible through decisive policy action from those in power.
Within the last 25 years we have seen the establishment of the Sustainable Development Goals which represent guidelines and targets for ending poverty, ensuring world peace and creating a sustainable planet before 2030. Intrinsic to this is the Leave No One Behind promise which insists that to achieve these goals we must eradicate poverty in all its forms and end discrimination and exclusion. 5 years away from this 2030 deadline, it is clear that we are far behind on these targets globally. In Ireland each year on 17th October we pay reference to rising homelessness figures, continually high waiting lists for essential services, a cost of living which is out of reach for many and deepening discrimination and mistrust between people. The last 25 years have seen many families and individuals trapped within intergenerational poverty.
However, the significance of the adoption of these goals and the promise should still not be taken for granted. “Leaving no one behind is simple. It says you don’t leave anyone behind. Nobody should be discriminated against for what they do, where they’re from or how they get along”- ATD Ireland Community Activist Jimmy.
Despite persistent inequalities we have been able to make change. There are examples of people from all walks of life coming together and building common understanding, people being freed of shame though peer support and those willing to try new initiatives to create a change.
25 years of 17th October has provided new opportunities, for learning, listening and thinking together. It is where we really spend time putting the knowledge and experience of those living in poverty at the fore.
17th October has Leave No One Behind at its core. It is about working together, actively listening to those who struggle and demonstrating strong bonds of solidarity. The stone reminds us to respect the human rights and dignity of each human being. It represents the dreams and hopes of people and the community they have built.
The poverty stone recognises the history and connection between those living in poverty across Ireland and throughout the world, “These are my people!” Teresa.
“If this stone could talk it would bear witness to the brave people who have spoken out here”- ATD Ireland Community Activist Paul. It is where many people have found their voice for the first time and took ownership of their story, “the opposite of shame happens here”- Martin.
“There is poverty and there are other people that are lost and they have no voice. And we stand together as one on the 17th of October to let them know that these people are not forgotten. These are our friends and we try to show them the way and show the m there is an answer, well, nearly an answer. There is hope; to let them know that there is a future” ATD Ireland Community Activist Ann Marie.
We can gain hope from the people who are struggling by recognising how they look out for one another, the strength it takes to get by and recognising their talents, wisdom, hopes and potential.
This 17th October we pay homage to the past 25 years, but we are also looking forward with a radical hope to a future that ends persistent poverty and where no one is left behind.
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Quotes from: Voices for Dignity 10 years at the poverty stone & ATD Ireland Leave No One Behind Series 3 film, 17 October Committee meetings and 17 voices film.