Esta ley declara el 17 de octubre de cada año como el "Día Internacional para la Erradicación de la Pobreza" en Puerto Rico, según lo dispuesto por las Naciones Unidas. Designa a la Oficina del Coordinador General de Financiamiento y Empoderamiento Socioeconómico, adscrita a la Oficina del Gobernador, como la agencia encargada de su implementación, promoción y celebración, incluyendo la creación de un comité con líderes comunitarios para organizar actividades que promuevan el desarrollo de comunidades de bajos ingresos.
(Approved March 22, 2003)
To declare October $17^{ ext {th }}$ of each year as "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty," as disposed by the United Nations Organization, and to designate the Office of the General Coordinator of Socioeconomic Financing and Empowerment, adjoined to the Office of the Governor, as the agency in charge of its implementation, promotion, and celebration.
The United Nations Organization, the most important international organization, celebrates October $17^{ ext {th }}$ of each year as "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty."
Currently, there is no provision in our legal system for promoting the development of low-income communities. It is the commitment and public policy of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to address the problem of extreme poverty in which thousands of Puerto Ricans live, accounting for 58% of our current population. See, Statement of Motives of Act No. 1 of March 1, 2001.
The purpose of this Act is to set forth the celebration on October $17^{ ext {th }}$ of each year of "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty" in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as disposed by the United Nations Organization. Also, the Office of the General Coordinator of Socioeconomic Financing and Empowerment, adjoined to the Office of the Governor, is
hereby ordered to be the government entity in charge of the disclosure of the significance of said day by means of the celebration of activities that promote the development of the low income communities of our homeland.
Section 1.-October $17^{ ext {th }}$ of each year is hereby declared as "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty," as disposed by the United Nations Organization.
Section 2.-Every year, the Governor, by means of proclamation, shall exhort the People of Puerto Rico to promote the eradication of poverty from our country on said date.
Section 3.-The Office of the General Coordinator of Socioeconomic Financing and Empowerment, adjoined to the Office of the Governor, is hereby ordered to create a Committee comprised by community leaders who represent each affected population segment, recommended by the Office of the General Coordinator, to disclose the significance of said day by means of the celebration of activities that promote the development of the low-income communities of our homeland.
Section 4.-It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to remit a copy of this Act to the Ambassador of the United States of America at the United Nations, and to the General Secretary of the United Nations.
Section 5.-This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 87 (H.B. 1444) of the $5^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to declare October $17^{ ext {th }}$ of each year as "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty," as disposed by the United Nations Organization, and to designate the Office of the General Coordinator of Socioeconomic Financing and Empowerment, adjoined to the Office of the Governor, as the agency in charge of its implementation, promotion, and celebration, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $25^{ ext {th }}$ of February of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director