Today almost one billion people live in extreme poverty, and are denied basic human rights such as the rights to an adequate standard of living including food and housing, the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and education.
Those who live in extreme poverty are often socially excluded and marginalized from political power and processes. Their right to effectively participate in public affairs is often ignored. The elimination of extreme poverty is not a question of charity, but a pressing human rights issue. States are legally obligated to realise human rights for all, prioritising the most vulnerable which includes those living in extreme poverty.
In September 2012, the Human Rights Council adopeted at its 21th session the Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
Based on international human rights norms and standards, these Guiding Principles provide for the first time global policy guidelines focusing specifically on the human rights of people living in poverty. They are intended as a practical tool for policy-makers to ensure that public policies (including poverty eradication efforts) reach the poorest members of society, respect and uphold their rights, and take into account the significant social, cultural, economic and structural obstacles to human rights enjoyment faced by persons living in poverty.
APG23, networking with other NGOs, participated to the drafting process of the Guiding Principles and is committed to remove the root causes of extreme poverty wordwide.
Documents
2012
- Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights - Oral joint statement at the 21st Regular Session of Human Rights Council - Geneve, 10 - 28 September 2012
- About the draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights - Oral joint statement at the 19th Regular Session of Human Rights Council - Geneve, 27 February - 23 March 2012
2011
- Extreme poverty and human rights: in which direction?
Written Statement submitted by the Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII at the 17th Regular Session of Human Rights Council - 30 May - 17 June 2011 - Joint oral statement on extreme poverty and human rights
Oral Statement cosigned by the Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII and others NGO's and submitted at the 17th Regular Session of Human Rights Council - 30 may - 17 June 2011
2010
- Joint statement on the Report of the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty on the draft guiding principles on extreme poverty and human rights
Written Joint Statement submitted by the Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII at the 15th Regular Session of Human Rights Council 13 September-1 October 2010
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