The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) is a network of over 11,000 civil society organizations (CSOs) organized in about 58 national groups. It supports people in their struggles for justice and brings individuals and organizations together to challenge the institutions and processes that perpetuate poverty and inequalities.
Launched in 2005 at the World Social Forum in Porto Allegre with the whiteband symbol, GCAP claims it has mobilized hundreds of millions of people and co-organised the world's largest single issues-based campaign to ‘Stand UP’ Against Poverty – certified by the Guinness World Records with 173 million people in 2009.
It's said to be the world's largest civil society movement.[1]
History
The idea for the movement first arose in 2003 at a meeting of non-governmental organizations in Maputo, Mozambique hosted by women's and children's rights advocate Graca Machel.[1]
It rapidly earned its status as the largest anti-poverty campaign due to an unprecedented momentum gathered at the 31st G8 summit at Gleneagles.[1]
GCAP co-chair Ana Agostino, said that initial burst of energy could only be described as a passionate love affair.
"We’re now an old, married coalition, and we need to find a way to adjust to our new circumstances," Agostina said in 2008.[1]
During 2006-2007, GCAP faced an identity crisis when attempting to transforming that momentum into a global coalition.[1]
In 2007, the movement issued the Montevideo Declaration, calling for the democratising of the values, mechanisms and processes of negotiation and decision making for the poor and marginalized and to ensure that equity, human security, and inclusion become the core principle of global governance.[1]
The network has constituency groups for women, youth, and socially-excluded people.
Demands
Global Call to Action Against Poverty demands:
Public accountability, just governance, and the fulfilment of human rights
The campaign demands that gender equality be recognized as a central issue for poverty eradication.
The campaign further demands that upholding the rights of children, youth, women, and other excluded groups, as well as ensuring their equal participation, be recognized as fundamental to the achievement of these goals.
Structure
The campaign operates as a global coalition. It is made up of 58 national coalitions with more than 11,000 civil society organizations.
Priority is given to the national coalitions and most major decisions and actions are taken on a national level by national coalitions.
A national coalition is made up of any and all organisations, of that particular country, that are committed to making poverty a thing of the past and support GCAP's platform. The campaign is not restrictive and is currently an alliance of existing coalitions, community groups, trade unions, individuals, actors, religious and faith groups, campaigners, non-governmental organizations, and more.
During the course of 2005 GCAP grew rapidly and by the end of the year the campaign boasted more the 70 national coalitions.
Operation
The global coalition is based on the Beirut Platform (a revised version of the Johannesburg Declaration of 2005) from GCAP's review session in March 2006 in Beirut, Lebanon. The campaign operates in 4 primary languages of English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.
The campaign will convene in Nairobi in January to further review the campaigns performance through 2006 and discuss the campaigns future through and beyond 2007.
Mobilisation dates
Throughout 2005 GCAP mobilised millions through a series of 'White Band Days', when the symbol was used to highlight the injustice of global poverty.
White Band Day 1 – 1 July 2005
White Band Day 2 – 10 September 2005
White Band Day 3 – 10 December 2005
White Band Day 4 – 17 October 2006 (part of the Month of Mobilization)
White Band Day 5 – 17 October 2007
A month of mobilization was launched on 16 September 2005 (to coincide with the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank) which will build up to a climax on White Band Day 4 on the 17 October (International Day for the Eradication of Poverty). During the month, countries around the world undertook an array of actions, culminating in the global white band day. The white band remains the campaign's symbol and expression of solidarity against poverty.
During 2007 national campaigns and coalitions mobilized on key national dates as well as the international white band day.
From 1 September – 20 October 2008, concerned citizens in over 100 countries will unite again for 50 Global Days of Action Against Poverty, united by the symbol of the white band. They will be calling for governments to eradicate poverty, dramatically lessen inequality, and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
The main body of the UK programme for the 50 Global Days of Action currently features 23 events, with over 50 NGOs and civil society organisations involved to date. It includes opportunities to influence major international meetings, lobbying at party conferences, an activist training forum, a stunt, public meetings, and a major demonstration against child poverty in the UK.[2]
'Stand UP' Against Poverty
GCAP together with the UN-Millennium Campaign jointly set a Guinness World Record for the most people ever to simultaneously 'Stand Up' against poverty within a 24-hour period. The initiative was held as a part of GCAP's Month of Mobilization and the release of the record numbers was set to coincide with the last day of the Month, The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
2009 "Stand Up and Take Action against Poverty" campaign
173 million people, 2.5% of the world population, around the world took part in the fourth Stand Up. This was a new Guinness World Record. Over 3,000 events were held in more than 120 countries in the fourth year of the "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!" campaign over the weekend. At least 100 million people in Asia took part in the campaign, while Africa saw the participation of almost 40 million, the Arab region over 30 million, Europe more than 2 million, Latin America and North America some 200,000 each, and Oceania more than 170,000.
2006
In 2006, the 24 hour period started at 10:00am GMT on 15 October and ended at 10:00am GMT on 16 October. The record was confirmed and released by Guinness officials on 17 October. The official record, that Guinness calls the largest single coordinated movement of people in the history of the Guinness World Record, is set at 23,542,614'
Stand Up events were registered in 85 countries across the world.
From 17 to 19 October 2008, citizens worldwide will attempt to break this record again. It is possible to register events at www.standagainstpoverty.org.
