10-20-07, 6:31 pm

United Nations, Oct 20 (Prensa Latina) Officials, diplomats and activists joined their voices against poverty during a meeting that took place in the gardens of the UN headquarters in New York.

On occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called for doubling the efforts and reach a real partnership among poor and rich countries.


The South Korean diplomat pointed out that millions of people in the world defend the Millennium Development Goals, which 'constitute our common view for the construction of a better world in the 21st Century.' Ban said that major political efforts will needed to put an end to the scourge of poverty.

Young participants in the gathering urged solidarity with those who live in poverty anywhere in the world and for renewing commitments to fight against inequality and poverty.

Every day, 50,000 people unnecessarily die as a result of extreme poverty, while the gap between rich and poor increasingly broadens, they stated.

We call on leaders of poor and rich countries to honor their promises and to complete the Millennium Development Goals, they added.

For his part, the president of the General Assembly, Macedonian Srgjan Kerim, said that this date offers an excellent opportunity to focus on the Goals of the Millennium to reduce poverty and hunger by year 2015.

Kerim expressed concern because many countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, are not even on the way to achieve these targets.

'We are halfway and it is time to review the progress we have made and step up efforts and resources to reach them,' he said.

Several speakers of non-government and youth organizations, artists and many others joined the celebrations for this day, established 20 years ago by the UN General Assembly.

From Prensa Latina