Why, after decades of economic growth, does poverty still persist?
On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October 2025), the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, challenges the status quo — exposing why traditional anti-poverty strategies reliant on economic growth fall short, and what bold new solutions are needed to truly end poverty for good.
He introduces the Roadmap for Eradicating Poverty Beyond Growth — a transformative framework at the heart of his new initiative, New Economies for Eradicating Poverty. Set to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in 2026, the Roadmap will provide governments and international organisations with a catalogue of policies that put people’s well-being ahead of GDP growth.
