Freedom From Want / Freedom From Poverty

Freedom From Want / Freedom From Poverty

Freedom From Want / Freedom From Poverty

"Freedom from want came to be enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 along with the freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear. The importance of the interconnectedness of these freedoms and the place of social, economic and cultural rights within it reflected an integrated vision of the human being, embodying the interests and entitlements necessary for a life with dignity".

Theme in the news

Over 116 million people stand up against poverty

23/10/08
The Elders' Mary Robinson joined Anti-poverty campaigners yesterday, to announce an astounding 116 million people – nearly two percent of the world's population – mobilized at events in 131 countries on October 17-19 as part of “Stand Up and Take Action.”


Stand Up and Take Action - Official 2008 Clip

16/10/08
October 17th has arrived at the International Date Line, and this years 'Stand Up Take Action' event is underway. Watch this year's official clip for the big event.



Stand Up Take Action - the view from inside GCAP

15/10/08
While Stand Up is doubtless only a success because of the hundreds of thousands of organizers and millions of participants every year, there is a dedicated team of coordinators working hard to bring all of the global actions together for this massive declaration against poverty and inequality and for the Millennium Development Goals.
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Freedom From Want / Freedom From Poverty

The Origins

Freedom from want was first articulated by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his famous 1941 Congressional address as one of the "Four Freedoms" all human beings should enjoy anywhere in the world:

"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want--which, translated into universal terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants-everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a worldwide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world. That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation."

Read more about Freedom from Want.

Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)

GCAP supports the promotion of the Freedom from Want/ Poverty theme throughout 2008. Founded in 2005, the GCAP alliance comprises social movements, international NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women’s organizations, faith and youth groups, local associations and campaigners working together across more than 100 national coalitions/platforms. GCAP is calling for action from the world’s leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In particular, GCAP demands solutions that address the issues of public accountability, just governance and the fulfilment of human rights; trade justice; more and better aid; debt cancellation; and gender equality and women’s rights.

Read More about GCAP

More About our Right to Freedom from Want

Join a GCAP coalition in your country

Find out more about the Millennium Goals and Human Rights

Add your personal pledge to fight poverty and inequality

Take part in Stand up 2009

Join the Amnesty International Campaign on poverty

Living the principles of the Universal Declaration

Here are a few profiles of people who uphold the principles of the Universal Declaration through their work protecting the Freedom from Want.

Alvin Tan

Advocate for freedom of expression through social theatre - standing up for human rights
A passionate advocate for social change, Alvin has produced controversial works such as Off Centre and Mobile which sought to bring remote voices into the mainstream through theatre. In 1994, he introduced forum theatre to Singapore, which became proscribed, but recently legalised. Despite having brushes with local authorities in challenging times, Alvin continues to push for individuals’ rights in the freedom of expression.

Miland Renade

Bringing Marginalized in India into the Labor Rights Mainstream - standing up for human rights
Milind Ranade comes from a long line of workers’ rights activists and is currently helping to organize the most unrepresented of these workers. Milind founded an alternative labor union that counters discrimination against the "untouchables”, the lowest caste of people living in India, who scavenge in municipal garbage dumps.

Wahyu Susilo

Defender of Migrant Workers' Rights and Anti-Poverty Campaigner - standing up for human rights
Cited as a hero by the US State Department in its 2007 Trafficking in Persons report, Wahyu Susilo has been campaigning for the protection of migrant workers' rights since 1996. Susilo grew up in poverty, and represents 2.5 million poor Indonesians who work as domestic servants and laborers in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan, Syria, Kuwait, Taiwan and Hong Kong.