What do poverty and hunger have to do with anti-fascism?

The message from the survivors of the anti-fascist struggle is that we must not only advocate for political change, but also focus on social conditions for all people as the foundation of a just society. Thus, anti-fascist constitutions also enshrine the right to work, the right to housing and education, as well as social security for all who need it. Furthermore—and not only in Germany—experience has shown that people facing economic hardship were susceptible to fascist propaganda and racist promises of salvation.

For this reason, the FIR also commemorates “World Hunger Day” on October 16, a day first observed in 1979. This date commemorates the fact that on October 16, 1945, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was founded as a specialized agency of the United Nations with the mission of ensuring global food security. In fact, over the past decades—with the limited resources made available to it by its member organizations—the FAO has undertaken numerous initiatives to alleviate the effects of famine. The FAO has carried out relief efforts in areas affected by natural disasters, environmental damage such as droughts or floods, and especially by wars—where the civilian population is the first to suffer the consequences of such conflicts. Just under 10 years ago, the FAO estimated that over 800 million people worldwide were suffering from hunger. Today, this number has risen significantly due to the effects of climate change and armed conflicts around the world. Pessimistic estimates suggest that approximately 1 billion people are starving.

However, the problem is not just acute hunger; this condition is linked to long-term illnesses, a lack of future prospects, and other social upheavals, which are among the causes of further violent conflicts around the world. And so, on October 16, non-governmental organizations worldwide draw attention to global hunger and its social consequences. And this goes beyond the primarily charitable campaign “Bread for the World,” which has been organized by church groups for many years.

This connection between hunger and future prospects is also highlighted by the observance held on October 17—also initiated by the United Nations—namely, the “International Day for the Eradication of Poverty”.

In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 17 a day of action and commemoration. One of the driving forces behind this resolution was the international movement “All Together in Dignity” (ATD). These nongovernmental organizations associate three goals with the “World Day to Overcome Poverty”:

to honor the resistance of people affected by poverty against misery and exploitation,
to give a voice to those in need and the marginalized and to bring their concerns to public attention,
to stand with the poorest of the poor to ensure that human rights truly apply to everyone.

The “United Nations Poverty Index” illustrates just how dire the situation is. According to the index, 1.2 billion people live in extreme poverty, half of whom are children. This means they lack adequate housing, sanitation, electricity, fuel, food, or education.

At the Place du Trocadéro in Paris, there is a marble plaque commemorating the origins of this day of remembrance and action. The plaque reads:

„Human rights advocates from around the world have gathered at this square.
They have paid tribute to the victims of hunger, ignorance, and violence.
They expressed their conviction that misery is not inevitable.
They declared their solidarity with all those people
who, somewhere in the world, are fighting to overcome misery.
Wherever people are condemned to live in misery, human rights are violated. It is a sacred duty to join forces to ensure their respect.“

In this spirit, the FIR also commemorates this day of remembrance.

Zdroj: FIR – Fédération Internationale des Résistants.