Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA – The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed today under the theme “Moving from humiliation and exclusion to participation: Ending poverty in all its forms.”
In a statement to SANA, Dean of the Higher Institute of Population Studies and Research, Akram al-Qash said that Syria, before the crisis, succeeded to meet the majority of the millennium development goals which came in line with the sustainable development agenda for 2030, adding that the eruption of crisis in 2011 hindered the fulfillment of the Syrian government’s population policies and programs.
He indicated the current plan focuses on reconsidering the population policy in order to bridge the gap caused by current crisis and continue efforts to implement the MDG’s programs and strategies.
In a statement issued on this occasion Sunday, UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin said that “to eradicate poverty – like any other goal to improve the human condition – we need to fully understand the world’s demographics.”
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for the total eradication of extreme poverty, building on the success of the Millennium Development Goals in halving it. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is helping countries bring about the demographic dividend by empowering often-overlooked young people, especially girls, and protecting their rights,” he added.
On 22 December 1992, the General Assembly passed Resolution 47/196 declaring October 17th as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (IDEP).
R. Raslan / Ghossoun