CIVICUS

FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

October 17: Stand up with millions united as one

Release Date: 22 August 2007

By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary-General

Dear e-CIVICUS Subscriber,

It all began 20 years ago as the initiative of people living in poverty across the world, in the North and South, with ordinary citizens acting together to defend human rights violated by extreme poverty. Led by the ATD Fourth World Movement, public events continued around the world each October 17. In 1992, the UN recognised the date as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Since its creation, October 17 has been a day for those living in extreme poverty to speak out and for all citizens to consider how they can contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty.

Last year in October 17, over 23 million people in 87 countries “stood up” against poverty in what was “the largest single coordinated mobilisation of people in the history of the Guinness World Records”. All around the world, in churches, schools, workplaces and on the streets, civil society joined with one action and one message in a powerful show of solidarity that reached political leaders on every continent. It filled me with great pride to see my brothers and sisters engaging together to express our message, ‘End poverty now!’ across the globe. This year, on October 17, the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) and the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) will be aiming to break this record and mobilise millions more to become part of our growing movement to end poverty. With October 17 being less than two months away, I would like to inform you of our plans and invite you to join us in our mass mobilisation.

The task for us this year is to show that the movement is growing and to keep the momentum going. We need to show political leaders around the world that we are not resting after the partial successes we have had so far and that we won’t stop until justice for the poor is achieved. As Nelson Mandela said at the launch of GCAP, “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest”.

What made “Stand Up” such a success last year was that it is accessible to anyone, not just civil society campaigners. It is a way to reach out to all constituencies and talk about the issues of poverty and inequality. Some of the most interesting mobilisations last year were organised independently by concerned citizens taking up the cause. In India, for example, Swami Ramdeo, the country’s leading yoga and ayurveda educator mobilised over 5 million people through his 20,000 yoga schools. Children in elementary schools in tsunami-struck Aceh stood up for victims of the tsunami and for children that had been orphaned by the natural disaster. Whilst they are now located in permanent schools, these students had been studying in tents for about 18 months. Then there were mass mobilisations - before football matches in Europe and Mexico, when tens of thousands in the stands took to their feet; marathon runners in Canada stood up before the race and in the US 12,000 people stood up before the Altanta Aid Walk.

Even the internet hosted mobilisations. Thousands of bloggers stood up online and there was a virtual stand up on Second Life, an internet site with subscribers in the millions. A number of internet celebrities posted their stand up on YouTube.

October 17 is an important date for civil society activists to mobilise and to encourage others around the world to Stand Up and Speak Out. This year, GCAP has adopted the day as the Global White Band Day, with the shared global slogan Stand Up and Speak Out. As the chair of GCAP, I would like to encourage people to use their voices in public rallies, by lobbying political decision makers, talking to the media and sending letters and emails - any way to have their voices heard.

The shared global action of “standing up” will take place on every continent. Any civil society organisation, or even individuals, can take part. GCAP is reaching out to all its supporters to get involved and full details can be found on www.whiteband.org or www.standagainstpoverty.org.

I would like to invite all organisations to spread the word about taking up actions on October 17. Please do whatever you can to contribute to sending a clear message to those who have the power make change possible. Here are some ideas on how to get involved:

§    Mobilise people on October 17 to Stand Up and Speak Out - materials and further information can be found on www.standagainstpoverty.org
§    Spread the word to your members and constituents
§    Your organisation can formally endorse the Stand Up and Speak Out action by emailing kumi.gcap@civicus.org. We will then list your organisation as a supporter on the website
§     Add a logo and link to standagainstpoverty.org on your website

With this year being the half-way point to the 2015 deadline for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, it is urgent that we unite to send an even louder message to decision makers and governments: “We expect to see action on the commitments you have made, there is no excuse!”. The Stand Up and Speak Out challenge provides an opportunity to reinvigorate the momentum to ensure that poverty, inequality and the MDGs remain a priority on the global political agenda. As I cannot overemphasise, to make full use of this opportunity, more than ever, we need to act together to create a just world.

Wherever this column may find you, may you feel encouraged to join us and stand up.

Warmest regards

Kumi Naidoo

Below you will find all previous columns published.

• Should the voting age be reduced to sixteen? International Youth Day: a time for reflection

• CIVICUS partners continue to languish in jail

• If civil society organisations cannot change how governments can?

• Climate Change: How much longer can we ignore this catastrophe and how will climate change affect the work of civil society?

• Civil society engaging with inter-governmental organisations: is the feeling mutual?

• 07/07/07: Reflection on the mid-point of the Minimalist/Millennium Development Goals

• Towards the Legal Empowerment of the Poor

• Continuity and Change: The position of CIVICUS' Secretary General