In observance of the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, people from all over the country will gather around the Human Rights and Poverty Stone in Dublin on 17th October to share their stories of experiencing poverty in Ireland, and to celebrate activism, social change and hope for the future.

The event will be attended by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.

The commemoration of the UN Day has been prepared by the Irish 17 October Committee and is financially supported by a grant from the UN Day awareness programme of the Department of Social Protection.

It will take place Monday, 17th October 2016, near the Famine Memorial on Custom House Quay, Dublin 1, with people and music arriving at 10:45 am (formal start 11 am sharp).

The programme will include:

•An address by the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins
•An address by Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr
•Ryszard Sarkowicz, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland
•Testimonies by various community members on their experiences of poverty and social exclusion. These will include representatives from Focus Ireland, Students from O’Connel School, I-Smile and the participatory “Our Voices” Project (with NWICTDP, SAOL and ATD).