World's Largest Anti-Poverty Call to continue holding governments to account:March 16, 2006

Beirut, Lebanon - (16 March 2006) Over 180 representatives of The Global Call to Action Against Poverty from more than 60 countries met in Beirut from 13-15 March, and unanimously agreed on an action plan to continue the largest citizen-led anti-poverty coalition in history, at least for two more years. The Global Call is made up of over 80 national coalitions in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Arab Region and Europe including Make Poverty History in the U.K. and the One Campaign in the U.S.

In contrast to the focus on international events in 2005, the Global Call decided to pressurize national governments in rich and poor countries to keep their promise in 2006 and 2007. In poor countries, governments will be asked to deliver on their commitments to achieve and exceed the Millennium Development Goals and eradicate poverty by developing clear plans, allocating budgets to achieve these plans and to aggressively fight corruption. In rich countries, governments will be called to agree to trade rules that will help reduce poverty, keep their aid commitments made in 2005 and cancel debts that are hindering the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

With the White Band as its unifying symbol, The Global Call has announced 17 October, 2006 as its global day of mobilization, which will mark the end of a month long process of actions and events across the globe.

Members of local, national, and international trade unions, faith-based organisations, NGOs, womens' organizations and youth groups jointly decided to maintain the global coalition that mobilized over 30 million people against poverty in 2005. The global meeting in Beirut followed several regional meetings , including Lima for Latin America, Harare for Africa, Lisbon for Europe and Bangkok for Asia.

"This agreement is an historic step in the global fight against poverty. The Global Call to Action Against Poverty, as a broad civil society coalition, has the ability to mobilise millions of people around the world. We have to let our leaders know that the people of the world not stop raising their voice until governments live up to their promise to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and end poverty" Salil Shetty, director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign stated.

The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is the world's largest anti-poverty alliance, whose organizations together represent more than 150 million people globally. Launched in January 2005 at the World Social Forum in Brazil, the Call has grown rapidly and national campaigns are now active in 74 countries, including Make Poverty History in the UK, Australia and Canada, Deine Stimme Gegen Armut in Germany, Wada Na Todo Abhiyan in India, Pobreza Cero/Sin Excusas in Spain, Niente Scuse in Italy, You Promised Act Now in Zambia, and Sin Excusas/Colombia Sin Pobreza in Colombia. The UN Millennium Campaign is a strategic partner of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. The Millennium Campaign supports people's efforts to hold their governments accountable on their commitment to meeting the Millennium Development Goals, a set of poverty eradication and human development Goals to be met by 2015.
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For media enquiries contact:
Amanda Kibel -
Email: amanda.kibel@undp.org

For more information:
United Nations Millennium Campaign:
http://www.whiteband.org/

Date Created: 3/16/2006 12:59:13 PM
Copyright 2006
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