Every day throughout the world this day is celebrated on October 17th. In 1987, 100,000 people gathered on the Human Rights and Liberties Plaza at the Trocadero, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948 to honor victims of poverty, hunger, violence and fear. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure these rights are respected. These convictions are inscribed in a commemorative stone unveiled on this day:

"Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty".

Since then, people gathered each year on October 17th to show their solidarity with the poor. The United Nations officially recognized it as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all states to devote the Day to presenting and promoting the eradication of poverty and destitution.