The “Stand Up Against Poverty” campaign 2009 received impressive support in Egypt from religious leaders, officials, youth organizations, NGOs, schools and universities, and the media.

Four days before its official launch, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Cairo announced the "Stand Up" campaign to the public and media at a press conference attended by the UN Resident Coordinator, representatives of Muslim and Coptic orthodox religious leaders as well as the National Youth Council.

During the press conference religious leaders expressed their support for the campaign and their appreciation for UN efforts to eradicate poverty in the world. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Awkaf (Islamic religious Endowments), Dr. Ahmad Abu Seif, Director General of Religious Guidance announced that imams will relay the Stand up against poverty in Friday sermons in more than 50 thousand mosques across Egypt.

Father Paul Sourour of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church said that combating poverty has always been at the heart of the Church’s action and reiterated the willingness of the Coptic Church to support the “Stand Up” campaign in Egypt for the second consecutive year.

UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, James Rawley briefed the audience about the UN system support to the MDG process in Egypt indicating that the country is on track towards achieving the MDGs particularly MDG1 related to eradicating extreme poverty.

Mr. Fethi Debbabi, UNIC Officer in Charge highlighted the leading role of religious leaders as key partners in promoting the UN global principles and humane initiatives.

The press conference was organized at a cultural center in Cairo, El Sawy Cultural Centre, which dedicated its performances during the three days (16-18 October, 2009) to the “Stand Up” campaign.

On Friday, 16 October 2009, imams in more than 50 thousand mosques in Egypt's 29 Governorates spoke against poverty and called for solidarity following the principles of the Islamic religion. This first day of the Stand Up campaign marked an impressive moment as Friday prayers constitute, in the Muslim countries, a unique moment to reach a huge audience made of the large spectrum of the society and where politicians, private sector, educated and illiterate people gather side by side.

After the prayers, a youth rally took place at a popular youth and sportive area in Cairo " Shebab Al Gezira Club" lead by a national media celebrity with the participation of representatives of the national youth council as well representatives of Muslim and Coptic orthodox religious leaders.

The last day of the campaign witnessed the standing up against poverty during Sunday masses at Egyptian Coptic orthodox churches - with an estimated participation of more than two million - a student “Stand Up” event at the Cairo University as well as in various primary and secondary schools across the country.

Egyptian media both written and audiovisual showed a noticeable interest for the campaign not only through close reporting of the events but also through analysis and special reporting and articles dedicated to poverty.

The UN family in Egypt participated actively in the campaign. Through a close cooperation between the UN Country Team and the UN Communication Group, the “Stand Up” campaign has been on the agenda of the two groups during September and October and many UN agencies held their own stand up events at their premises.

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Bogota organized 84 events in Bogotá’s public schools network organized in collaboration with the Municipality Education Department. UNIC also contacted some of the private schools which participated last year and added some others to the initiative. As a result, eight private schools participated in this year “Stand Up Against Poverty” campaign events. Each of the schools had between 1,000 – 2,000 student participants. UNIC Bogotá provided each school with campaign materials regarding the Guinness Book of Records and the MDGs. It also supported every event in the participated schools on the actual day of campaign, 16 October 2009.
 
In addition, UNIC Bogotá held a central event at the María Mercedes Carranza School, a prominent school in Bogotá with the participation of the Mayor of the City of Bogota, Mr. Samuel Moreno and UNIC Director. Over 2,000 people attended the event. Furthermore, all the “Stand Up” campaign activities were organized in collaboration with each school staff and students, who were fully aware about the event and the importance of their participation through the prior conferences and briefings.
 
UNIC Bogotá, with the support of the Resident Coordinator Office and UNDP in Colombia, participated on 17 October at the main soccer game in Bogota with the assistance of more than 30,000 people. At the beginning and the ending of the game, the players wore t-shirts with the “Stand Up” campaign slogan and the themed banners were displayed at the stadium.
 
“Accion Social”, the Colombian Government Agency for International Cooperation organized the “Stand Up” campaign events for their employees in more than 698 cities in Colombia. More than 8,000 people stood up.

Bogotá, Octubre 20 de 2009 - El Centro de Información de las Naciones Unidas (CINU) en Bogotá - con el apoyo del Sistema de las Naciones Unidas en Colombia y la Secretaría de Educación del Distrito Capital (SED) organizaron en 84 Colegios de la ciudad, el evento “LEVANTATE y ACTÚA” al cual se sumó la Agencia Presidencial para la Acción Social con eventos a nivel local y nacional.

El acto principal se desarrollo en el Colegio María Mercedes Carranza y estuvo presidido por el Alcalde Mayor Samuel Moreno Rojas y el Director del CINU, Damián Cardona. Allí más de 2000 niños y niñas se pusieron de pie a la lectura del Manifiesto.

El Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) en el marco de la celebración del Día Mundial de la Erradicación de la Pobreza, participó en el clásico de fútbol capitalino Millonarios vs. Santafé, en el estadio Nemesio Camacho "El Campín". Allí el Coordinador Residente y Humanitario del Sistema de las Naciones Unidas en Colombia, Bruno Moro, leyó el manifiesto.

La Agencia Presidencial para la Acción Social organizó eventos a nivel local y nacional de los  que participaron unas 8.000 personas. La lectura del manifiesto en la ciudad de Bogotá estuvo a cargo del director de la Agencia, Diego Molano.

La Campaña “LEVANTATE y ACTÚA” contra la Pobreza es un llamado mundial a actuar contra la pobreza y la desigualdad y por los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio. En cada evento, los participantes se ponen de pie juntos para simbolizar su unidad con millones de otros participantes de LEVÁNTATE en todo el mundo. El evento y la cantidad de participantes se registran y compara con las cifras de participantes informadas a los registros del Libro Guinness para así permitir un registro mundial.

On 16 October, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Moscow, jointly with the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Russian Federation and the Sholokhov Moscow State University of Humanities, organized a “Stand Up” campaign event at the University’s premises. Mr. Karl Kulessa, UNFPA Representative in Russian Federation, focused his opening remarks on the MDGs and the situation of women, in particular.

After Mr. Kulessa’s address, the “Stand Up”  video was projected on a large screen for the audience. Then the university students, active members of the Center of the Youth Programmes, introduced the attendance to projects implemented by volunteers, such as distance education for persons with disabilities and assistance to the families with disabled children.

The culmination of the event was the Bob Marley’s song “Get Up, Stand Up” performed by students, and the “Stand Up” action itself. At the end, students signed the pledge which they were going to send to Russian Parliamentarians.
 
On 17 October, another “Stand Up” event was organized at the Vykhino Campus of the Sholokhov Moscow State University of Humanities University. UNIC Director opened the event with remarks outlining the essence of the poverty issues.
 
According to the preliminary count and the “Stand Up” campaign coordinator in Europe, the registered number of participants in Russia was more than 4,500 persons in various parts of the country, including cities such as Moscow, Barnaul, Severodvinsk, Tumen, Novosibirks, Michurinsk, Togliatti.