In the last two decades, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty has been halved, 17,000 fewer children die each day and millions more girls and boys are enrolled in primary school in developing countries around the world. However, extreme and growing inequality, if not addressed, stands to undermine and in some cases reverse progress achieved.

Pervasive economic inequality compounds other inequalities, including between women and men. It also entrenches inequality from generation to generation as the richest can buy better education, healthcare and therefore opportunities for their children. Significantly, the richest can also buy political influence, giving them the opportunity to bend the rules in their favour and leaving the voices of the poorest unheard.

Dr Szoke, Chief Executive, Oxfam Australia will be in Adelaide later this month to explain Oxfam’s work to achieve a world free from poverty, and why inequality is one of the key threats to its mission. While Oxfam are fiercely non-partisan, its work is unashamedly political. Oxfam seek to challenge the way in which power and resources are amassed because, the issue of extreme poverty in a world of plenty is a political issue.

This event is co-presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and Oxfam Australia.

FREE registration, The Politics of Poverty
29 October, 6pm
Allan Scott Auditorium, University of South Australia