MORE than half of Bahrain's population is expected to literally stand up against poverty later this month, in what is predicted to be a world record-breaker.
The United Nations global 'Stand Up and Take Action' campaign is being staged on October 16 and 17.
The annual event, in which 116 million people worldwide took part last year, is expected to be bigger than ever, said UN resident co-ordinator in Bahrain Sayed Aqa.
"Bahrain had a significant contribution in 2008 with many schools and other institutions taking part, but this time we expect to break all previous records," Mr Aqa said during a Press conference at UN House in the Diplomatic Area.
"In terms of the size of the country, more than half the population turning up to stand up against poverty has never happened before. If we succeed in this, it would be a world's first."
Mr Aqa called upon the media, non-governmental organisations and the public to make sure they have their say on the two days and that people swell the Stand Up gatherings planned all over the country.
"We have to do it for the world; we have to do it for Bahrain," he said.
The Press conference was held to announce a string of UN activities in Bahrain, beginning on October 12, with the formal launch of the Global UN Human Development Report.
The launch, on the theme of migration, will take place simultaneously in Bahrain, the Thai capital Bangkok and Geneva, Switzerland.
As part of the Stand Up campaign, people all over the world will symbolically stand up to be part of the generation that can end poverty and achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Mr Aqa quoted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as having said the campaign was a historic opportunity to act responsibly and decisively for the common good.
With only six years until the 2015 deadline to achieve the MDGs, governments have to be encouraged to engage constructively in preparation for a high-level meeting in September next year, to review progress towards the MDGs and other international development goals, said Mr Aqa.
He said the 2009 MDG Report, released earlier this year, said that though important progress had been made, many successes were still there to build on.
"The world has been moving too slowly to meet its goals," said Mr Aqa.
"We hope the 2010 high-level meeting will not only result in a renewal of existing commitments but also would be able to decisively galvanise co-ordinated action among all stakeholders and elicit the funding needed to ensure the achievement of the MDGs by 2015."
Foreign Ministry political co-operation assistant under-secretary Ahmed Al Haddad said there is tremendous enthusiasm in Bahrain for the Stand Up event.
"The Art of Living Foundation, several schools - particularly Indian community schools - the Bahrain Training Institute and Bahrain University, among others, have pledged their support," he said.
"We are sure the events will be a great success."
UN Information centre director Nijib Friji said a function on October 22 would mark the beginning of the "seal the deal" climate campaign, marking the beginning of the world conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"On October 26 will be the UN day celebrations, with an official function in the morning, followed by a reception in the evening."
mandeep@gdn.com.bh
