Standing up and speaking out

Last year on the International Eradication of Poverty Day, a record-breaking 23 and a half million campaigners Stood Up and Spoke Out against inequality and injustice. Organisers are hoping that an even greater number from all corners of the earth took to their feet and found their voice sending a collective call to politicians on world poverty on October 17th 2007.

Already news is coming in: in India's Kashmir region, 35 000 university students stood up; 15 584 children in Malawi played football to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals, and staff at UN agencies in Jordan were encouraged to get actively involved. For more stories and updated news, visit the Stand Up and Speak Out blog.


Some Jubilee Debt Campaigners in London joined with members of other anti-poverty groups to wrap City Hall in a huge white band. In spite of the wind, the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY symbol created an iconic image to remind everyone that despite some great progress, there is still much further to go to eradicate the gross inequalities still prevalent in today's world. Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (the most senior woman and African in the United Nations), emphasised the necessity for gender equality.