Council Launches Anti Poverty Network on International Human Rights Day
Publish Date: Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Council Launches Anti Poverty Network on International Human Rights Day
To mark International Human Rights Day (10th December), Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council launched a local Anti Poverty Network which seeks to dispel the stigma about poverty and bring greater focus to the issues experienced in Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough.
The network will challenge the delivery of resources towards making a difference and will work towards creating a society where we can look towards achieving the aim set out under the Human Rights Declaration over 60 years ago
The Mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, Councillor Barry Monteith Mayor, said:
"In 1948 the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, talked about poverty in terms of 'rights' it says that 'Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of oneself and one's family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, education.
Nearly 60 years later, we are still dealing with major issues of poverty. Council has recently learned that Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough is an area most at risk of child poverty and the issues that this brings, from lack of adequate food, cold homes, struggling at school and the stigma of not being able to fully participate in a developing society.
"It is critical we do not let these issues become hidden as people become more isolated and that we do not allow the gap between rich and poor to continue to grow. Everyone has the right to a good quality of life and as a society we should be looking at ways that we can make this happen. "
The local network on poverty will bring key stakeholders around the table to challenge why poverty is so high in the Dungannon and its surrounding towns and villages and will look at how existing and new resources can be more focused to try to alleviate real change and introduce equality for all.
As part of its campaign a session was also held with Council staff delivery agents and Councillors on both global and local poverty issues. Christine Patterson from Save the Children said:
"One of the key aims of Save the Children is to dispel the myth that nothing can be done. We have shown that with the right intervention poverty can be eradicated which is evident in the change we are making in regions of Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Myanmar (Burma). However the work is long term and must have commitment from those in power who can provide the leadership for change'.
Frances Dowds from NIAPN also provided facts to dispel some stigmas about people in poverty; she emphasised how most people in poverty show very good money management due to having to balance low wages or benefits and the cost of living; and how benefits and low income are not enough to provide the basic needs such as heating, good food, necessity clothing, before even taking account of activities to support social interaction, which many of us take for granted, but however are often the area that poorer people receive criticism if partaking in'.
