Note to Correspondents

‘WE CAN END POVERTY’ EXHIBIT ON SHOW AT UNITED NATIONS

 

In commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October, an art exhibition entitled “We Can End Poverty” is on view in the North-East Gallery of the General Assembly Visitors’ Lobby from 4 to 18 October.

As part of the activities to commemorate the International Day, as well as the end of the first Decade for the Eradication of Poverty, the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (DESA), in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) and the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), invited children from all over the world to participate in an international art competition to design a United Nations stamp on the theme “We Can End Poverty”.

More than 12,000 children from all over the world participated in the competition.  The exhibit displays the best 50 entries, 6 of which were chosen as the winning designs to be issued as United Nations stamps in 2008.  The remaining 44 were awarded Merit and Recognition certificates.  Through their artwork, the children demonstrated enormous creativity, skills, thoughtfulness and concern for the poor.  They show us that poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon and a variety of actions can lead to its eradication.

The General Assembly declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.  It invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution.  The International Day is an important tool to support national efforts to eradicate poverty, by promoting dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders.  It is also a significant rallying point for the global and national campaigns to realize the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the goal to eradicate poverty and hunger.

This art exhibit is organized by DESA, in cooperation with DPI and UNPA. 

For more information on United Nations exhibitions, call Jan Arnesen at tel.:  212 963 8531 or Liza Wichmann at tel:  212 963 0089.

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For information media • not an official record