Malta: 15,948 STAND UPs on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The National Platform of Maltese development NGOs (NGDOs), in collaboration with STOPoverty!, KOPIN and Global Action Schools organised the first MDG one-day conference in Malta. The event hosted 85 persons including a number of academics, school children, diplomats, members of parliaments, representatives of different NGOs and faith-based groups. The aim of the conference was to create space for citizen participation and discuss the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The conference also indicated the importance to strengthen NGOs and NGDOs who work to ensure international solidarity with the poor. The importance of directly involving people from the developing world in such debates and in the decisions that affect them was also expressed and agreed upon. This was highlighted particularly with regards to decisions which are crucial to policy making.

For this event, Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) Malta, has promoted the "Stand Up Speak Out" activity which brought together 15,948 people standing up and speaking out against poverty and inequality between the 16th and early 18th October. The majority of people taking part in the actions were from schools including pupils and children, however a number of other groups also performed a stand-up. The final amount of global stand ups is 43.7 million in 127 countries, including Malta. This amount of Stand Ups has broken the Guinness World Record, for more info please go to: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org.

The number of Maltese standing up against poverty indicates that the Maltese and Gozitan people are increasingly expressing their concern with regards to poverty around the world and showing their solidarity. Also Maltese citizens are calling on our politicians to deliver on their promises to play an active role in advocating for people who live in poverty, in fighting harder in favour of a fairer world, and in promoting human rights.

For further information please contact the National Platfom of Maltese NGDOs on: ngdo@maltaforum.org

Information provided by Angie Farrugia, National Platfom of Maltese NGDOs