Investing in people the smartest way to eradicate poverty, UN says

"In the name of fiscal austerity, we cannot cut back on common-sense investments in people," Mr. Ban said in a message to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty , noting that too many people have been seized by the fear of losing their jobs, their ability to feed their families and access to health care, the UN News Centre said.

"We can meet the challenges we face - the economic crisis, climate change, rising cost of food and energy, the effects of natural disasters. We can overcome them by putting people at the centre of our work."

He pointed out that too often in the debate about the future, the voices of the poor and the young are being ignored, and so are environmental concerns.

"As we work to avoid a global financial meltdown, we must also work to avoid a global development meltdown," said Mr. Ban.

He called for greater efforts to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs ), the anti-poverty targets world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015.

"Malaria can be stopped. AIDS can be reversed. Millions of mothers can be saved from dying in child birth. Green investments can generate jobs and growth," said the Secretary-General.

"Now is the time to push harder to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Together, let us listen to people - and stand up for their hopes and aspirations. That is how we will build a world free of poverty."

The United Nations independent expert extreme poverty and human rights, Magdalena Sepъlveda, for her part, urged States to immediately address the growing inequalities between the rich and the poor, saying that disparities are being exacerbated by austerity measures devised to facilitate economic recovery.

"These rising inequalities have diminished social cohesion and increased insecurity and exclusion throughout the world," she said in her message. "Should these inequalities persevere, the result could be increasing social unrest and conflict, such as that seen over recent months."

Details also at http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40073&Cr=poverty+eradication&Cr1 =