Mammoth global anti-poverty campaign breaks world record

A Guinness World Record shattered this weekend when 173,045,325 citizens gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries, demanding that their governments eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Minar Pimple, Deputy Director, UNMC (L) and partner NGOs with signature cheque carrying the representation of 173 million citizens in the Stand Up campaign.

"Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!", now in its fourth year, has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest mobilisation of human beings in recorded history, an increase of about 57 million people over last year.

[To view highlights from events across the world, click here]

In Asia, 101,006,845 people took part in this mammoth global anti-poverty campaign, accounting for more than half of the global number.

"The more than 173 million people who mobilised this weekend sent a clear message to world leaders that there is massive, universal, global demand for eradicating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals," said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

"In particular, we have seen citizens determined to show their governments that they will hold them accountable for keeping their promises to end hunger, improve maternal health and abolish trade-distorting agricultural subsidies. They will not accept excuses for breaking promises to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, who have already been hardest hit by the global food, economic and climate crises they had no role in causing."

"Largest mobilisation, achieved once again from Asia and the Pacific region, is a loud and clear call by the people to the leaders to accelerate the achievement of MDGs in the remaining six years especially for women, excluded and the vulnerable," said Minar Pimple, Deputy Director and Head of Asia and Pacific, United Nations Millennium Campaign.

Currently 1 billion people around the world are hungry and 500,000 women continue to die annually as the result of pregnancy and childbirth. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable.

The mobilisation was organised globally by the United Nations Millennium Campaign, in partnership with a range of organisations including the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP).

Though the size and location of events during "Stand Up" were diverse, all demonstrated a commitment to eradicating poverty and holding governments accountable for the promises they have made regarding the Millennium Development Goals.  

Amongst almost 2,000 events the Asia and the Pacific region included:

Regional event kicked-off with the Bangkok-based UN Agencies gathered together in the UN Family Stand Up event to reflect on the progress they had made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and to affirm their dedication to doing whatever it takes to achieve them. In highlighting the Regional focus on Hunger, the Stand Up Campaign joined the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific to celebrate the World Food Day.

In Bangladesh, civil society campaigners raised the call "National Unity Can Eradicate Poverty," urging that a "Poverty and Hunger Free Bangladesh is Possible Now." The Prime Minister led the nation in pledging to remain united to develop the country by 2020. At a rally in Dhaka, she called upon all political parties to jointly fight corruption and stabilize democracy. 

A citizen’s audit of health centres and government schools was carried out across 100 parliamentary constituencies in all states of India. The major highlight of this year’s mobilization was massive participation of Dalits, Muslims communities and grassroots women from across the country.

In Nepal the President read a Stand Up Pledge with members of the Constituent assembly at an event broadcast live on national television, followed by a concert in a large open-air theatre in the heart of Kathmandu.

Despite the typhoons that hit the Philippines just before "Stand Up," 35.5 million people in the country Stood Up and the "I Vote for MDGs" campaign, a survey on the issues voters believe should be prioritised by the 2010 Presidential candidates, was launched.

In Indonesia, civil society organisations addressed their messages to the newly elected government to renew its commitment and make MDGs as its main agenda of the next five year development plan including to double state expenditure to health sector. Covered by media, local leaders in Jakarta, Central Java, East Java and other provinces pledged their commitment toward the MDGs in front of their constituents, members of parliament followed by music concert, tree planting and free medical check-ups. 

At Federation Square, Melbourne, a concert organised by Make Poverty History Australia and AusAID included a flash mob stunt and performances by entertainers including Diafrix, a musical group of African refugees.

Citizens of Papua New Guinea Stood Up for the first time this year, in churches and government buildings, with support from the government Department of Community Development. Actions included marches and rallies, special sermons, and songs and drama and placards by children and youth that highlighted issues of poverty and calls for acceleration of actions and adequate budgetary allocations to achieve the MDGs.

Not only the numbers of participants are growing this year, more countries have joined in the process, first-timers in Asia also include Bhutan and Myanmar.

To view the list of events and participants, click here.

For more information, photos and b-roll contact:

Lopa Ghosh
United Nations Millennium Campaign, India

Lopa.ghosh@un.org.in
Telephone: +91 11 46 532 207
Kallayaphorn (Jasmine) Jaruphand
United Nations Millennium Campaign, Asia Regional Office
Jaruphand@un.org
Telephone: +66 2 288 2867

About the Campaigns:

The UN Millennium Campaign was established by the UN Secretary General in 2002. The Campaign supports citizens’ efforts to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.  The Millennium Development Goals were adopted by 189 world leaders from rich and poor countries, as part of the Millennium Declaration which was signed in 2000. These leaders agreed to achieve the Goals by 2015. Our premise is simple: we are the first generation that can end poverty and we refuse to miss this opportunity. For more information, visit www.endpoverty2015.org.

The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is a civil society alliance of social movements, international NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women’s organizations, faith and youth groups, local associations and campaigners working together across more than 100 national coalitions/platforms. GCAP is calling for action from the world’s leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In particular, GCAP demands solutions that address the issues of public accountability, just governance and the fulfillment of human rights; trade justice; more and better aid; debt cancellation; climate justice; peace and security as well as gender equality and women’s rights.