United Kingdom

National Websites: makepovertyhistory.org / yourvoiceagainstpoverty.org.uk

National Campaign: United Kingdom GCAP platform

The United Kingdom GCAP platform works through the established networks that form the heart of collective campaigning against global poverty in the UK. These include the issue coalitions such as the Trade Justice Movement, the Jubilee Debt Campaign, the UK Aid Network and the Stop AIDS Coalition as well as BOND and its 300+ member NGOs in the UK, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). Together these networks work together to connect UK activity and representation with the Global Call to Action against Poverty in association with the leading poverty campaigning  organisations

GCAP UK Representative
Glen Tarman, BOND

Events in 2007

October 17: International Day for Poverty Eradication

• Stand Up Speak Out in London
  

To mark International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, UK campaigners joined the global call to Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty in London on Wednesday 17 October. The worldwide symbol of anti-poverty campaigning > ->  a
white band > ->  was held up around City Hall, near Tower Bridge.  Hundreds of people united to 'Stand Up and Speak Out' for action to end poverty and inequality as well as meet and exceed the Millennium Development Goals.

Campaigners called on governments and world leaders to keep their promises to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and to go much further in taking action to end extreme poverty. A broad cross-section of global civil society called for justice on international trade rules and practices, debt cancellation, more and better aid to the poorest nations, women's rights as well as greater transparency and accountability.

The civil society representatives participating in this event at London's City Hall came from the student network U8, the United Nations Association and UNICEF, leading UK aid and development organizations such as Oxfam, Muslim Aid, Tearfund, Jubilee Debt Campaign, One World Action, Save the Children, WaterAid and CAFOD, as well the trade union UNISON

To see the picture of the wrap up of the City Hall go to United Kingdom

• BOND called for meeting participants at the European Commission to Stand Up and Speak Out

Marco Serena, European Campaigner with UK NGO platform BOND and a member of GCAP Europe steering group, called for the 35 participants in a meeting at the European Commission building in Brussels to Stand Up as part of the global day of action. The meeting was a consultation by the EC where civil society development groups such as members of CONCORD were raising their concerns about the EU-Africa Strategy set to be adopted at the Lisbon Summit in December by African and European Heads of Governments.

To find more about this event please go to BOND - European Commission, October 17