In January 2005 a Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) campaign was launched at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre to pressure governments “to eradicate poverty, dramatically lessen inequality, and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)”. GCAP demands

• Public accountability, just governance and fulfillment of human rights
• Trade justice
• Significant increase in the quantity and quality of aid and financing for development
• Debt cancellation
• Gender equality be recognized as a central issue for poverty eradication
• Upholding the rights of children, youth, women and other excluded groups, as well as ensuring their equal participation, be recognized as fundamental to the achievement of the above goals

GCAP builds on existing networks and has rapidly grown into the world’s largest ever anti-poverty movement with over 1000 organisations supporting them and who together represent over 150 million people globally and with national campaign actions in more than 90 countries. Members of the campaign include existing coalitions, community groups, trade unions, individuals, religious and faith groups, campaigners and more.

Although 2005 was a landmark year in the fight against poverty with some success on debt cancellation and aid, much was still left to be achieved. In March 2006 a renewed call for GPAC to continue working together as a global movement was initiated and it was decided that the campaign should continue until the end of 2007.

The focus until then will now be on the national campaigns and coalitions to allow greater devolution of co-ordination to allow for flexible global co-ordination.

A Month of Mobilisation has been called by GCAP to be launched on 16 September 2006, coinciding with the IMF/World Bank annual meetings. This will be followed through with events to place global poverty high on the national and global agenda of governments. This will lead to the first ever Guinness World Record for the largest number of people to STAND UP Against Poverty on 15-16 October 2006 and finally building up to a climax on Global White Band Day on 17 October 2006, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

CUUNA will be participating and promoting these events so join us in our campaigns for the MDGs!