The ‘Year 2015’ is a crucial year with two United Nations summits in September and December that will agree new goals for humanity to tackle poverty, inequality and environmental destruction. ‘Action 2015’ is a growing citizen’s movement of hundreds of organisations around the world coming together to demand ambitious agreements on poverty, inequality and climate change.
In her launching statement, programme officer responsible for training at Tango, Tobaski Njie- Sarr described poverty as one of the main challenges that hinder the welfare and development of mankind, affecting mostly young people and women.
“The launching of Action 2015 in The Gambia is very crucial as it will show the whole world that we are also committed to the global fight against poverty, inequality and climate change,” she said.
She further added that Tango and its development partners would always stand by the young people of this country for them to maximise their potentials for a better future.
Mrs Njie-Sarr stated that a lot has been achieved with the millennium development goals, but still, more needs to be done to end poverty and other social vices.
Fatou Jeng, president of the Children Adovacy Network (CAN), called on the government to redouble its efforts in order to achieve the national socio-economic development goals as stated in the Vision 2020 blueprint.
“We will be watching and listening, demanding our rights as children, listening to what promises our leaders are ready to offer and we are ready to hold them accountable for what they do in the years to come,” she said.
Speaking earlier, Ibrahim Ceesay, executive director of Children and Community Initiative for Development said the campaign is mainly calling on world leaders to agree on plans to eradicate poverty, prevent dangerous climate change and tackle inequality.
“According to new research, almost a billion extra people face a life of extreme poverty if leaders duck key decisions on poverty, inequality and climate change,” he added.
Mr Ceesay further revealed that in The Gambia, a series of activities such as a national civil society forum on Action 2015, drama completion and poetry performances by schools and a TV documentary will be held in preparation for the two summits.
“Action 2015 is calling on the public to join them in their calls to ensure world leaders commit to a better world. The campaign will provide ways for everyone everywhere to get involved in influencing the outcomes of these global debates that could achieve an end to poverty, climate change, accelerated transition to 100 percent renewable energy, respecting human rights and fight against inequality and discrimination,” he concluded.
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