| United Nations Ethiopia Staff Stand Up Against Poverty Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 16 October 2009 -- More than 300 members of the United Nations staff in Ethiopia took a stand against poverty during the annual “Stand Up and Take Action” event. The event also included a pledge, read aloud by participants, asking leaders to honour their promises to meet the Millennium Development Goals. This is the fourth such event in the UN system. Last year, a Guiness World Record breaking 116 million people stood up -- the largest mobilization around a single cause in recorded history. Should the world record be broken again this year, an official announcement will be made on Wednesday, 21 October, at 10:30 a.m. in New York. This year has been a particularly difficult one in terms of efforts to eradicate poverty, said Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. In a statement, read by Mr. Fidele Sarassoro, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Ethiopia, she said poverty and climate change go hand in hand. “Climate change has the potential to undermine development progress,” she said. “The impact of climate makes life worse for many.” Focusing on the theme for this year’s observance, “Children and Families Speak Out Against Poverty” UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon called now a critical juncture in the fight against poverty. His statement was read by Ms. Lalla Ben Barka, Deputy Executive Secretary for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. “Now is the time to amplify the voices of the vulnerable and ensure the world follows up on its pledges,” his statement read. “With the right investments and concrete actions, we can build upon the gains, fulfill our commitments and ensure that every man, woman and child has the opportunity to make the most of their potential.”
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