The report, entitled A Future Within Reach 2008, was launched today, at a high-level panel meeting on the MDGs, during the annual session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It is the third regional report on MDGs produced by ESCAP, ADB and the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) Millennium Development Goals Initiative team, based in Colombo.

Bangkok (UN Information Services) - Speaking in New Delhi, Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said that considerable progress had been achieved by India on many fronts, but much more needed to be done if India was to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Dr. Heyzer was a special guest speaker at a roundtable, entitled "Taking India to the level" and organized by The Economist. Among the speakers were several senior government ministers and around a dozen business leaders from India and abroad.

UPDATE: Over 43.7 million people, in 127 countries have broken the Guinness World
(24 October 2007, http://www.standagainstpoverty.org)

School kids in Soweto, South Africa, announce new world record. (PRNewsFoto/Global Call to Action Against Poverty)

NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES

NEW YORK, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Over 38.7 million people, in 110 countries have broken the Guinness World Record -- set last year at 23.5 million -- for the largest number of people to "STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY" in 24 hours.

The "Stand Up and Speak Out" record attempt took place over 16th and 17th October and was jointly organised by the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) with a wide range of other partners. The challenge saw millions of people physically and intentionally standing up against poverty, inequality and in support of the Millennium Development Goals. They spoke out to demand a more urgent political response to the growing crisis of global poverty. United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who led a stand up action at UN Headquarters in New York, said, "Today tens of millions of people are making their voices heard by standing up and speaking out against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals. They are sending messages that call on their leaders to keep their promises. They are calling for the actions of citizens to be matched by the actions of Governments, in developing and developed countries alike, to demonstrate the political will required to end the scourge of poverty once and for all."

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in collaboration with the Government of Thailand marked the 20th Anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in ceremonies at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

After the official ceremony in the UN Conference Centre, Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, H.E. Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan and Gwi-Yeop Son, UNDP Resident Coordinatior and UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand, led over 1,000 UN staff, Thai government officials and the public to form a human chain from Makawan Bridge between Government House and the United Nations compound to stand up and speak out against poverty and inequality and demand that governments around the world keep their promises to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Last year, a record of 23.5 million people took part worldwide. The number is expected to double this year, setting another new Guinness World record.