Fighting poverty is a human rights obligation

11.50.22am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 8th Dec 2006

Ahead of this year's International Human Rights Day (December 10th) London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford is calling on all Londoners to remember the world's poor during the festive season.

This year's Human Rights Day focuses on poverty as both a cause and consequence of human rights abuses. Victims of discrimination and others whose rights are denied are more likely to be poor because it is harder for them to participate in the labour market and they lack access to basic services. Meanwhile, poor people cannot enjoy their basic rights to education, healthcare and housing because they cannot afford them.

Sarah Ludford said:

"Poverty undermines every aspect of human rights. Particularly in developing countries where the state does not provide a safety net, many poor people are trapped without the means to change their lives."

"As we all look forward to the festive season, I urge you to also think of those in London and worldwide who are denied their basic rights and have to endure hunger, homelessness and a lack of basic resources."