GCAP Updates	Mobilization in the Arab Region	Stand Up Activities

The Global Call to Action against Poverty is a worldwide alliance committed to making world leaders live up to their promises, and to making a breakthrough on poverty in 2005. It is an alliance between a range of actors around the common cause of ending poverty: existing coalitions, community groups, trade unions, individuals, religious and faith groups, campaigners and more. .

2005 was a landmark year in the fight against poverty. In January 2005 a Global Call to Action against Poverty was launched at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre to lay down the gauntlet for world leaders to achieve a breakthrough on world poverty. In less than 12 months, GCAP has grown into the world's largest ever anti-poverty movement, whose organizations together represent more than 150 million people globally, with campaign actions in more than 80 countries. In 2006 we are still acting together to hold leaders to their promises, and to achieve more to eradicate poverty.

There were some victories on debt cancellation and aid but tragically rich countries betrayed the world’s poor by allowing the colossal inequities in world trade to persist. GCAP will unite again in solidarity in 2006 to continue to challenge the structures of poverty and injustice and to ensure world leaders take the necessary steps to assign poverty to history.

GCAP has recently decided to continue working together as a global movement – this decision was taken at a recent global planning meeting in Beirut.(The arabic doc.)

The Global Call to Action against Poverty and Inequality embraces a growing number of civil society actors and people in both the South and North. Any civil society organization willing to support the values, core message and joint action is invited to participate. This is not based on membership. There is great diversity among our group, but we know that we will be more effective when we work together. We do not endeavor to reach absolute agreement on detailed policy, but we want to pressure governments to eradicate poverty, dramatically lessen inequality, and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

We demand:

For inquiries on GCAP in the Arab region and for joining the national coalitions, please do not hesitate to contact us at annd@annd.org

Related websites
www.whiteband.org
www.makepovertyhistory.org
www.one.org

To contact the GCAP regional focal point in the Arab region:
Email: kinda.mohamadieh@annd.org
Call: 961-1-319 366 Fax: 961-1-815 636

To contact global secretariat of the GCAP:
Email: ntsiki@civicus.org Call: 00-27 11 833 5959
Fax: 00-27 11 833 7997