October 17 ATD Brief Report

Paris – we estimate that around 20,000 people participated during the day invited by ATD Fourth World, GCAP France, Amnesty, Caritas France and over 50 other associations and groups. We would have had more if it weren’t for the general strike that started that evening. It was incredibly successful and people came away more motivated than ever to continue to struggle against poverty and exclusion where they live, and internationally.

The day came to a close with the Trocadero plaza lit up, with the Eiffel tower as a backdrop, it was a spectacular piece. Delegates from around the world spoke of their first hand experience of poverty and exclusion, there were some very emotional moments. The results of the Call to Action Ending Extreme Poverty a Road to Peace were presented to Madame Ize Charrin, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The following day a delegation of people with first hand experience of poverty who participated in national consultations went to a meeting in Geneva with the Office of the High Commission of Human Rights where a report on extreme poverty and human rights was presented.

For more information visit: atd-fourthworld.org/UN-Draft-Guiding-Principles-of.html and atd-fourthworld.org/Dignity-in-the-Face-of-Extreme.html

Some coverage

• Feedback France Radio Internationale: rfi.fr/francais/actu/articles/094/article_57821.asp and rfi.fr/radiofr/editions/072/edition_7_20071017.asp
  

• UN Webcast of Event NYC: The whole event, including the standup with Ban Ki Moon and Adonis Salis, grassroots activist from the Philippines who gave a great speech. See at: webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/specialevents/2007/se071017pm.rm
  

• DPI/NGO*: NGO Briefing - Linking Human Rights to Extreme Poverty in observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October): webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/specialevents/2007/ngo071018.rm
  

• Message from Eugen Brand, Director General, International Movement ATD Fourth World: atd-fourthworld.org/Message-from-Eugen-Brand-Director.html
  

If you want to know more about ATD, please contact

International Movement ATD Fourth World
Mouvement International ATD Quart Monde
Paul Harris
107, avenue du Général Leclerc,
95480 Pierrelaye
France
paul.harris@atd-quartmonde.org 
www.atd-quartmonde.org