As UN International School Students ‘Stand Up Against Poverty’, Secretary-General

Pledges to Keep World Focused on Meeting Millennium Development Goals by 2015

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the United Nations International School (UNIS) “Stand Up against Poverty” event, in New York today, 16 October:

It’s great to be back at UNIS -- and it’s great to be with you.

You are the leaders of tomorrow.  And every day you are learning more about our world and our challenges.

One of our biggest global challenges is poverty.

More than 1 billion people are still trapped in extreme poverty.

Over 70 million children cannot even go to school.

That’s why world leaders committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

We are more than halfway to the deadline in 2015.

We have made a great deal of progress -- on getting more children into schools, especially girls, and on fighting malaria and measles and other diseases.

But many nations need help.  The economic crisis has made it more difficult for more people.

It can be difficult to understand, or even imagine, what extreme poverty feels like.  But I know that we all feel compassion and solidarity with those who live it every day.

That’s what the Stand Up campaign is about.  That’s why we will convene a Summit next year at the United Nations to keep the focus on the goal of meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

We know that if we take a stand -- if we act -- we can end poverty in our lifetimes.

I urge you to learn about the Goals, talk about them with your families, friends and teachers.  Lead the way.

Young people are often the hardest hit by poverty.  This year is also the twentieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We know that investing in children and securing their rights is one of the surest ways to end poverty.  And I know that no one can better speak for young people than you.

Together, let us pledge to stand up in the fight against poverty.

Now, we have come to the “Stand Up” moment in today’s programme and the reading of the pledge.

I invite all of you to crouch down, and on the count of three, to stand up!  We will read the pledge after we all stand up.

Is everyone ready? Please crouch down.

Now -- One… Two… Three… Stand Up!

That was great!  We will now recite the pledge.  Everyone, please join in:

“We are standing now with millions of people around the world on this historic day, to show our commitment to the fight against extreme poverty, hunger and disease.

Today, we Stand Up together to call on our leaders to keep their promises and act now to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

We will continue to Stand Up, not just today, but every day, to say: No more excuses, End Poverty and Inequality Now!”

Thank you all very much -- and keep taking a stand!

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For information media • not an official record