MILLIONS WORLDWIDE TO STAND UP AND DEMAND THAT

Citizens attempt to break another Guinness World Record by showing their governments

they won't stand for broken promises to world's poorest

United Nations offices, together with the Millennium Campaign and civil society partners, are mobilizing people around the world to stand up and demand action to end poverty. After a year in which progress on eradicating global poverty has actually reversed, millions of people will come together across continents, cultures and time zones on Friday to tell their governments in no uncertain terms what they want them to do: End Poverty Now.

Ordinary people, poor and rich, will gather at events across the globe from 16 to 18 October 2009 as part of “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!” to demand that world leaders achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – a set of promises to eradicate extreme poverty and its root causes by 2015. In a sign of the massive global support for the achievement of the MDGs, last year more than 116 million people participated in “Stand Up,” shattering the Guinness World Record for the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history.

“With just six years left until the deadline by which heads of state have pledged to eradicate extreme poverty and its root causes, 'Stand Up' will be a stark reminder that citizens will not accept excuses for governments breaking promises to the world's poorest and most vulnerable citizens,” said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign. “This year's mobilization will place particular emphasis on telling world leaders that their track record on women's rights, maternal mortality and hunger is unacceptable. Citizens refuse to accept the fact that 70 per cent of the people living in poverty are women and children, and 500,000 women continue to die annually in the process of giving life. They are demanding urgent action from their leaders.”

“Millions of people are standing up against poverty, while politicians are sitting on their hands,” said Adelaide Sosseh, Co-Chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) based in The Gambia. “The combined effects of the economic, climate and food crises are affecting people of all ages and stations in life, in all countries – especially women -- but those already living in poverty are the hardest hit. Given the amounts found to bail out banks in just a year, we know the resources are not lacking. It´s this lack of political will to tackle poverty that remains the biggest motivation behind Stand Up participation.”

Actions Around the World
Amongst the thousands of “Stand Up” events being planned across every inhabited continent are:

In Accra, Ghana, the 2009 “Stand Up and Take Action for MDGs” campaign will be organized as part of the Flag-raising ceremony to climax the 2009 World Food Day, on Friday, 16 October 2009. The event will take place at the Independence Square. The organizers are the UN system in Ghana, the Christian Council of Ghana and the Global Call to Action against Poverty which is a civil society alliance of social movements, international NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women's organisations, faith and youth groups working in more than 100 countries.

Also in Accra, the UN system led by the United Nations Information Centre will hold a Stand Up event with school children from six basic schools numbering 1600 at the Flag Staff House Basic School compound.

Again in Ghana, the Christian Council on Sunday, 18 October 2009, will through its member churches and NGOs organize Stand Up events throughout the country. At all these events participants will sign the signature banner in support of the stand up campaign.

In Nigeria, thousands of people are expected to attend various concerts over the three-day mobilization by performers including Sarah Mitaru and Femi Kuti, who will honour the life and work of renowned African musician/AIDS activist Fela Kuti. The performers will explore the MDGs and the issues of social injustice, exclusion and poverty through song and dance. They will also sign a petition demanding accountability and transparency in their governments in order to achieve the MDGs.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, thousands of rugby fans attending the Absa Currie Cup Semi Final matches will Stand Up at the beginning of each match in solidarity with those demanding the end of poverty, through a partnership between the United Nations Information Centre and the South Africa Rugby Union.

In New York City, citizens will Stand Up and Dance on 16 October at a Friday evening party organized by Mercy Corps and the ONE Campaign to pressure the United States Congress to pass the Roadmap to End Global Hunger plan.

Across Europe, on 17 October from 7:00-9:00 PM (GMT + 1 hour), radio stations will simultaneously play Bob Marley's song “Get Up, Stand Up.” The song will also be played often throughout the three-day mobilization in Europe, reminding audiences of the mobilization happening across the globe.

Media wishing to view or embed the live conversations can visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/stand-up-against-poverty and media wishing to download and broadcast the clips after the conversations have occurred should use http://ustream.tv/UNcampaign. Both links will be active on 13 October.

Citizens can also visit www.standagainstpoverty.org beginning on 16 October to Stand Up virtually and be counted towards what organizers hope will be a new Guinness World Record.

For more information, to book an interview or for details on events visit www.standagainstpoverty.org or contact: