Document Actions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH ON OCTOBER 17TH WILL DEMAND NEW GOVERNMENT PUTS POOR FIRST
2008-10-1517th October 2008
09h30 – 12h30, Union Buildings, Pretoria
As part of a massive coordinated global action against poverty on October 17th, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, thousands of campaigners are expected to march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to present specific demands to Kgalema Motlanthe’s administration that will alleviate suffering in South Africa. They will be part of the Stand Up Action taking place worldwide, over three days from October 17 to 19.
Led by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the South Africa Council of Churches (SACC), and the South African Non-Govermental Organisation Coalition (SANGOCO), marchers will call on the South African government to:
- guarantee the child support grant to ensure it covers children under 18;
- Adopt the 1997 White Paper for Social Welfare
- cut VAT on basic foodstuffs;
- abolish user fees on water;
- play a driving role in building a global partnership for development, as part of the 8th Millennium Development Goal; and
- ratify the UN Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
“In South Africa, the need to eradicate poverty and inequality is integral to our fight against the legacy of our Apartheid past. South Africa’s efforts at poverty alleviation have been a mixed bag so far, and we believe that for sustainable development, the national paradigm has to change as well,” said Sakina Mohammed, the GCAP’s South Africa coalition coordinator from the South African Council of Churches.
Archbishop Njongo Ndungane of African Monitor, and Chief Commissioner during the 2008 Poverty Hearings commented, “According to the firsthand testimony that I heard during our National Poverty Hearings, the state of South Africa is dire. Communities are crippled by poverty. It is a state of emergency. In this period of transition it is vital our new government knows that we have solutions to poverty in South Africa.”
The Stand Up campaign, under the umbrella of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) alliance, is also supported by the South African Rugby Federation, which will invite spectators to take a stand against poverty at their matches over the weekend. People in communities around the country, with the Art of Living Foundation, in faith gatherings and workplaces, will also register Stand Up moments to be counted towards the global total. CIVICUS will also be participating in a number of Stand Up events, as a member and host of the GCAP Global Secretariat.
In neighbouring Zimbabwe, thousands will gather in Harare to call on their government to “Do the Right Thing” by improving service delivery in health, water and sanitation.Stand Up aims to mobilise over one percent of the world’s population in 2008, in a united call on leaders in both rich and poor countries to fulfill their commitments to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
“Last year 43 million
people Stood Up worldwide. Now, in the midst of a global financial meltdown, it
is more important than ever that we keep poverty reduction front and centre of
government policymaking and increase our presence. The current focus on
propping up the rich needs to be balanced by honouring our long term
commitments to helping every man, woman and child exercise their right to a
life free from the indignity of poverty,” said Kumi Naidoo, Co-Chair of the
Global Call to Action Against Poverty.
For further information contact:
Nastasya Tay, Media Coordinator, CIVICUS,
Tel: (011) 833 5959, ext. 126; Mobile: 0732 660 493
Sakina Mohamed, Programme Director, SACC,
Tel: (011) 241 7813; Mobile: 0829 385 445
Notes to Editors:
Stand Up Take Action will take place from Friday October 17th –Sunday October 19th around the world. GCAP will mobilise a civil society alliance of social movements, international NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women’s organisations, faith and youth groups, local associations and campaigners working together across more than 100 national coalitions/platforms. GCAP is calling for action from the world’s leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In particular, GCAP demands solutions that address the issues of public accountability, just governance and the fulfillment of human rights; trade justice; more and better aid; debt cancellation; and gender equality and women’s rights. For more information, visit www.whiteband.org
A high resolution video clip of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s message to the world on Stand Up and Take Action Day, is available at: http://blip.tv/file/1343952
It is also available on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PZ0M7tcff8
Actions are registered, information and pictures are available for download at: www.standagainstpoverty.org
Actions people will be taking include signing the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (www.everyhumanhasrights.org) and showing they support its principles in 2008, the 60th anniversary of the Declaration.
###
