Global poverty movement launches: challenges to world leaders include trade justice 
(27 January 2005)

The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), the biggest ever global mobilization to hold governments accountable for the promises they made to eradicate poverty, was launched 27 January at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. 

Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed his solidarity and support for the global call and delivered a speech before the 12, 000 people that gathered at the Gigantinho stadium wearing white bands, the symbol of the campaign.

The Global Call to Action against Poverty is a worldwide alliance of hundreds of organisations. These comprise grassroots organizations, trade unions, women's groups, non-governmental organisations, human right advocates, international civil society and faith groups. The campaign is calling on world leaders to fulfill their commitments on trade justice, more and better aid and full debt cancellation. It is also demanding transparency and accountability from all governments in their plans to eliminate poverty and reach the Millennium Development Goals. 

Speaking at the launch, trade campaigner John Samuel, on behalf of the Global Call to Action against Poverty said, 'We need a shift in national and international policies and agendas. At a time when bombs, security and terror dominate the political agenda it's imperative to bring poverty into the centre of government thinking. We just can´t afford to keep quiet when 50,000 people die of poverty related causes every day and the rich and the powerful chose to ignore it. The Global Call to Action against Poverty is a wake up call to people in both rich and poor countries to mobilize and force their governments to take action."

Leaders around the world have made endless promises to end poverty. In 2000, they committed to halving extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 by signing the Millennium Development Goals; to establish fair trade rules at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) 'development' round in 2001; and to end the burden of debt that forces low income countries to pay $100 million every day to their creditors. 

The truth is that little has been done. At the current rates of progress, it will take more than a 100 years, not ten, for many countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals", says Wahu Kaara, a Global Call to Action against Poverty representative from Africa.

During 2005 millions of people are expected to demand that world leaders fulfill their promises at three key "White Band Days": (1 July) just ahead of the G8 summit in the UK, (10 September) at the UN General Assembly and in December (date tbc) at the WTO Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong. The white band is a symbol of the united call to end poverty once and for all. Other key events also include the Global Week of Action on Trade.

This is a really crucial moment in the global fight against poverty. We are a massive and diverse group which has come together this year to demand change. It is high time for rich countries to take action on trade justice, improved aid and debt cancellation. So, our message today is that united we cannot be ignored by our governments," said Coumba Toure from the Global Call to Action against Poverty Africa who presented President Lula with a white band during the launch event.

The Global Call to Action against Poverty demands that in 2005 world leaders:

• Immediately end dumping and rich country subsidies that keep people in poverty. 

• Enact measures to protect public services from enforced liberalisation and privatisation, secure the right to food and affordable access to essential drugs and strengthen corporate accountability

• Increase accountability and transparency of governments and international organizations in the formulation of international trade rules and national trade policies. 

• Give more, untied and better aid now to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. 

• Meet the agreed target of 0.7% of national income in overseas aid. 

• Ensure aid is directed towards achieving development objectives.

• Cancel debt - rich countries, the World Bank and the IMF should cancel 100% of the debt of the poorest countries in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

• National efforts to eliminate poverty and to reach the Millennium Goal that are developed and implemented in a way tat is democratic, transparent and accountable to citizens.

The Trade Justice Movement is a central part of the UK mobilisation of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty called MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY. Trade Justice is one of the three main calls of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY along with drop the debt, and more and better aid.