Poverty is the shortage of those things deemed necessary to ensure quality of life - for example, food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water. It does not have to mean a shortage of money, though in the modern capitalist world, it is often money that determines an individual's ability to acquire these things. Poverty can also include a lack of access to opportunities such as education and employment, which aid the escape from poverty and allow one to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens.
Officially, 'extreme' poverty is defined by the World Bank as those living on less than $1.25 per day, while moderate poverty is defined as those living on less than $2 a day. This is a measurement of 'absolute' poverty, a statistical analysis. Poverty can also be seen in 'relative' terms - i.e. poverty within a given social context. For example, 'poverty' in the UK is of a different nature and quality to 'poverty' in Africa.
For children, poverty is a crucial issue, as it is linked to their educational requirements, their standards of life, and to social consequences such as crime, drug addiction and violence. It often sets in motion a deepening spiral of social exclusion that creates problems in mental and physical health, and social interaction.
- 2.9 million children in the UK are currently living in poverty, one of the highest rates in the industrialised world.
- 4 in 10 children in London alone live in poverty
- In 1998, the UK government promised to halve child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020. 600,000 children were lifted out of poverty between 1998 and 2006 - an incredible achievement, but there is still a long way to go. This situation is rendered more difficult by the current economic climate
- Poverty can depend upon disasters; 1.25 million children across the world are affected by disasters that push them below the poverty line
Global poverty has enjoyed a high profile recently, as a result of the 'Make Poverty History' campaign and the efforts of campaigners at G8 summits and elsewhere. Charities have been heavily involved in working to eradicate child poverty for many years, but the fight is still to be won - as the figures above suggest.
Useful websites
Information on child poverty, including policy and proposals
Campaign to eradicate child poverty by 2020, facts about child poverty, information about the campaign and participating organisations
Campaigns against child poverty in the UK, and the implications of poverty for the lives of children both in the UK and across the world
