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Millions of people have joined Stand Up Take Action mobilizations all over the world from October 17 to 19. Unofficial figures show that the total number of participants in Stand Up events in at least 128 countries has exceeded the target of 67 million (or 1% of the world's population). Asia mobilized the highest numbers with unofficial tally showing the figures are twice over last year's total for the region.
The tally will be finalized by close to midnight (GMT) on Tuesday, October 21.GCAP and the United Nations Millennium Campaign will announce the results of the
historic mobilization in an online press conference on Wednesday, October 22, at
1:30 pm GMT (9:30 am in New York).
"We have a significant increase in the number, scale and scope of mobilizations. GCAP and its partners have multiplied the community of
anti-poverty activists all over the world. Most important, this year these voices
involved clear actions and commitments from individuals, groups,
communities, institutions, networks, social movements and other civil society
groups. They come from different age groups, but share the same message of
ending poverty and coming together for equality," said GCAP Mobilization Officer Ben Margolis in an e-mail.
"Our
mobilisation this year focused on clear and powerful messages, with
campaigners calling for education and healthcare for all, gender equality,
more rapid and urgent progress on the MDGs, real efforts to tackle climate
change and more. All these efforts contributed to creating an informed and
active mass that will continue to be engaged in our struggle on a regular
basis. The involvement of political leadership and local government
institutions, school children, students and faith based groups show the
strength this movement has developed in all spheres of society," he added.
Mobilizations in Asia
Afghanistan:
GCAP Afghanistan held a poverty forum in Kabul where people "stood up" and took a pledge to take action to end poverty in Afghanistan, where 85% of the population is deemed poor. The event was attended by parliamentarians and government officials, professors from Kabul University, civil society organizations, and religious leaders.
 A 13-minute
documentary film produced by GCAP Afghanistan was screened at the forum. The film depicted the current poverty situation in
Afghanistan and the need for the Afghan government to take action to eradicate it.
GCAP Afghanistan also held poverty forums in four other cities in Afghanistan on October 18. The forums called on the government to make aid more effective and to address the food crisis crippling the nation.
Bangladesh:
Thousands of children joined the Children’s Rally and
signature campaign held at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy by PFM Bangladesh and
the National Federation of Youth Organizations in Bangladesh. Mustafa
Mohiuddin, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, graced the occasion.
Political parties, senior political leaders and human rights activists,
including Dr. Kamal Hossain, President of Gonoforum, expressed their support
and urged thegovernment to fulfill its commitment of achieving the MDGs by
2015.
The People’s Empowerment Trust and the United Nations
Millennium Campaign organized a People’s Stand Against Poverty. Students,
teachers, parents, civil society members, representatives from major political
parties, and development organizations “stood up” at the Rabindra Sarobar
Mancha open theatre. Members of popular bands and celebrities appealed to the
audience to raise their voice against poverty. A pledge was read by Retired
Justice Golam Rabbani was echoed by the more than 60,000 people participating
in the event.
 Stand Up school assemblies were held all over Bangladesh
after the Ministry of Primary and Mass education issued a special note
directing all the government primary schools to hold school assemblies from
October 17 to 19 in solidarity with GCAP.
Other events included human chain, courtyard meetings,
community fairs, a boat rally, Stand Up at cinema halls, and indigenous sports
events. Mega Stores like Nandon launched an anti-poverty signature campaign at
their various outlets and gathered thousands of signatures from their
customers. A road show from Dhaka University to four major points in Dhaka city
was also held. Famous singers, celebrities and civil society representatives
joined the road show.
Chittagong organized a Stand Up during the Bangladesh-New
Zealand Cricket match. As many as 50,000 people, including officials of
Bangladesh Cricket Control Board, cricket players and officials of both
Bangladesh and New Zealand, and cricket lovers “stood up.”
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