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Members of the IBVM General Congregation 2009 'Stand Up Against Poverty'

On October 17^th 2009, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty members of the General Congregation taking place in Arricia Italy, stand up against poverty.  Since the introduction of the Millennium Development Goals, following the Millennium Summit , the IBVM has committed itself to respond to this world wide challenge.  

At the General congregation the members made the following statement:

We are standing here on this symbolic day, the international Day For the Eradication of Poverty because we refuse to accept more excuses from world leaders who allow 50,000 people to die every day as a result of extreme poverty.

We are standing here today because we want our leaders to honour their promises to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and even to exceed these 'minimum' Development Goals.

To the leaders of the wealthy countries we say:

• Keep your promises on poverty, debt cancellation, more and better aid, trade justice and gender equality.
• Commit yourselves to reaching a fair and equitable agreement that dramatically reduces the impacts of climate change on the poorest of the world.

To the leaders of the poorer countries we say:

• Make it your first responsibility to save the lives of your poorest citizens,
• Tackle inequality. Be accountable to your people. Govern fairly and justly.
• Fight corruption and respect the human rights of all.
• We are not asking for charity but for justice.

So and standing here, as members of the IBVM GC 09, we join our voices to millions of voices all over the world and in solidarity we say together:

We pledge to work together to help the world get on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. No more excuses!

End greed now! End poverty now! Make poverty history!

Read more about the statement

GC09 Participant Impressions

Gaining and Giving at the GC09

Q & A about the GC09

Closing Address by Marian Moriarty ibvm