Ahead of Global Citizen Festival 2016, Global Citizens around the world took more than 1.3 million actions over three months to:
Secure 14 new commitments and 15 announcements to achieve the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Ensure accountability and delivery of 6 commitments made in the past on Global Citizen platforms.
Push forward 9 campaigns on which further action is needed to ensure that world leaders keep their promises to citizens.
Together, these commitments and announcements are worth $1.9 billion, and are set to reach 199 million people on the way to achieving the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
TOP CAMPAIGN VICTORIES
SANITATION: After Global Citizens took 60,000 actions, Netherlands commits $350 million over 3 years to reach 14.9 million people. This funding will enable them to deliver on the commitment they made to Global Citizens in 2015 to improve sanitation for 50 million people, and water for 30 million people by 2030.
WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: UPS, Walmart and Johnson & Johnson each commit to purchase $100 million from women owned businesses over the next three years. This total $300 million commitment is set to affect 240,000 lives by 2019, follows 30,000 actions by Global Citizens, and will be delivered through our partners at WeConnect International.
EDUCATION: In response to 350,000 actions by Global Citizens, $40 million in new financial commitments from key donor countries:
Canada committed $20 million and Denmark committed $11 million for Education Cannot Wait, supporting education for children in emergency and conflict areas.
$10 million from Australia for girls education in the Asia-Pacific region.
TOP ACCOUNTABILITY UPDATES
SANITATION: World Bank announced they have disbursed $6 billion of the $15 billion that was committed at Global Citizen Festival 2014 so far, reaching 100 million lives to date. This follows ongoing campaigning by Global Citizen staff and more than 50,000 actions by Global Citizens in 2016, calling on the World Bank to deliver on their commitment.
EDUCATION: Queen Rania announced on behalf of UNICEF that Education Cannot Wait Fund’s first disbursal of $42 million will be made in 2017, set to reach 1.5 million children over 2 years.
ACHIEVING GLOBAL GOALS: World Bank Group President Jim Kim commits to raise at least $52 billion for their International Development Association (IDA) replenishment before the end of 2016 to fulfil their previous commitment to lift 100 million people out of extreme poverty, made at 2015 Global Citizen Festival.
TOP CALLS TO ACTION
POLIO: The world is 99.9 percent of the way to eradicating polio. In 2016, there have been just 26 cases. To end the disease forever, the world needs to mobilize at least an additional $1.5 billion. Global Citizens took 134,470 actions on this issue in the run up to the Festival, securing commitments from Luxembourg and Malta, and launching a call to action for the UK and Canada to increase their commitments:
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau responded via special video message with Usher. Global Citizens will continue to call on him to match his words with real dollar figures:
“Lately my office has been flooded with phone calls and tweets from many of you. Thanks Rihanna! I've heard your voices loud and clear on a whole range of issues – from supporting the eradication of polio, to ensuring every girl everywhere has the chance to go to school. Canada has long supported efforts to fight polio, which is now 99.9 per cent eliminated. And we will be a strong partner through to the end. Thank you for keeping these issues on our global agenda. Keep calling, keep tweeting, keep lighting up our switchboards. We're listening, and we're taking action. You've shown to the world that change starts with you. Together, we will end it for good.” — Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
- EDUCATION: Global Citizen Festival sees world leaders outline ambitious plans for all kids, particularly girls and children in emergencies, to receive a quality education. The Global Partnership for Education launches a campaign to grow their investment in quality education to $2 billion per year replenishment effort by 2020 after Global Citizens took 356,054 actions. To kickstart this renewed focus on education, Global Citizen Festival saw 15 commitments and announcements valued at $105 million, that will reach 271,000 people.
ISSUE SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
GIRLS & WOMEN
195,650 ACTIONS AND CAMPAIGNING DELIVER 9 COMMITMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS VALUED AT $300 MILLION THAT WILL REACH 240,000 PEOPLE:
[commitment] WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: UPS, Walmart and Johnson & Johnson each commit to purchase $100 million from women owned businesses over the next three years. This total $300 million commitment is set to affect 240,000 lives by 2019, follows 30,000 actions by Global Citizens, and will be delivered through our partners at WeConnect International.
24,435 Global Citizens signed petitions calling on these companies and corporations around the world to purchase more women owned products. A joint handover with WeConnect International was then held at Johnson & Johnson headquarters where petition signatures were handed over to the Chief Procurement Officer, Len DeCandia.
5,300 Global Citizens tweeted corporations to source more products and services from women-owned suppliers in developing countries.
WeConnect advocated for all its members to make a commitment at Global Citizen’s September events at its annual meeting in early July 2016.
[announcement] YAZIDI WAR CRIMES: Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, announced that Belgium is favorable of referring the case of war crimes against the Yazidi people to the International Criminal Court, following more than 40,000 actions by Global Citizens.
"Belgium, as one of the signatories of the International Criminal Court and the The Hague Convention, is favorable of bringing this case to the International Criminal Court." — Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Belgium (video)
[announcement] LEVEL THE LAW: Global Citizen’s long-term campaign to reform and repeal laws that discriminate against girls and women in Commonwealth countries saw more than 80,000 actions taken with the following progress:
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland committed at the 2016 Global Citizen Festival to work with all 53 Commonwealth countries to reform gender discriminatory laws through the newly established Commonwealth Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform.
Australia, Malta, Fiji, Seychelles, Uganda and Samoa signed onto Global Citizen’s Declaration.
“I highly commend Global Citizen on their campaign to shine a spotlight on the laws that discriminate on the basis of gender. We Commonwealth nations are no exception – as all countries contain aspects of discriminatory laws – including Samoa. I am now pleased to endorse Global Citizen’s campaign to Level the Law by joining Malta and Australia, who have already signed their declaration. I also challenge my Pacific neighbors to make a stand with me and declare our commitment to this cause.” — Minister for Women, Faimalotoa Kika Ah – Kau Stowers, Samoa
Global Citizen campaigning led to the 11th Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting Communique including a specific reference to tackling gender discrimination in the law:
“Ministers confirmed the importance of strong legal frameworks to prevent discrimination against women and girls including the incorporation of international agreements into domestic regulatory frameworks and policies.”
[call to action] PAKISTAN: Global Citizen is campaigning with Oscar winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Equality Now and CHIME FOR CHANGE to outlaw honor killings.
37,100 actions have been taken, including signing a petition and tweeting at the Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistani National Assembly to pass a bill removing legal loopholes that allow perpetrators of honor killings to be easily forgiven for their crimes.
In the wake of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch's being honor killed by her brother in July, the Pakistani Parliament has approved the Anti-Honor Killings bill.
We are hoping to see the bill pass in October, signaling that the government is ready to protect victims of honor killings under the law.
“We commend the Pakistan government for its stated commitment that it will end impunity for honor killings. We call upon the government to amend the law as soon as possible to ensure that those who kill their female relatives in the name of honor are punished for murder, and to eliminate all loopholes in the law that allow killers to walk free” — Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
[call to action] TANZANIA: Global Citizen is campaigning with Youth for Change to have child marriage outlawed in Tanzania, a country where 4 out of 10 girls are married before their 18th birthday, and some are as young as seven years old.
In July, the High Court ruled the Marriage Act unconstitutional. However, in response to this ruling, the government filed a notice of appeal against the High Court’s decision. The government has now agreed to carry out public opinion polls before making any amendment to the law.
28,083 Global Citizens have emailed, called and tweeted at President Magufuli and the Tanzanian Parliament, in support of Youth for Change and Co-Founder Aristarick Joseph, in their effort to lobby the government to amend the Marriage Act.
We will build on the political moment from the meetings in Samoa to continue mobilizing Global Citizens to urge for accelerated progress in raising the minimum marriage age to 18 for boys and girls.
[call to action] THE GIRLS AGENDA: As the UN prepares to welcome a new secretary-general and many new agency heads, Global Citizen and partners launch a new 'Girls Agenda' that asks UN leaders and others to address challenges and discrimination faced by girls that hamper their opportunities (including their education).
The Girls Agenda is: A transformational action plan for the new United Nations secretary-general and international leaders to speak and act in unity with and for girls all over the world. It champions 5 key issues for gender equality including Child Marriage; Data (better data on the Girls and Women we can't see); Education; Laws, Practices, and Norms; Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights.
“We need to end child marriage…get these girls into school… make sure that all girls get their health and reproductive rights… We need girls to be counted… we need to abolish all laws that stop girls from getting on with their lives… This is The Girls’ Agenda … And that will change girls’ lives.” — Helle-Thorning Schmidt, CEO of Save the Children International
[call to action] NANCY PELOSI: Nancy Pelosi endorses the Sustainable Development Goals, from empowering the world’s girls and women to eradicating hunger, and encourages Global Citizens to step up and ensure they are achieved.
“Tonight, we celebrate great music - and renew our commitment to the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals exist because of you - because you stood up and spoke out to demand the whole world take action. They were established because people like you recognized that we all have a role to play in ending poverty and hunger, eradicating disease, protecting our planet, and empowering the world's girls and women to succeed.” — Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader, USA
EDUCATION
356,054 ACTIONS AND CAMPAIGNING DELIVER 15 COMMITMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WILLL REACH 270,000 PEOPLE:
GLOBAL PLAN TO ACHIEVE QUALITY EDUCATION: Global Citizen Festival sees world leaders outline ambitious plans to get all kids, particularly girls and children in emergencies, a quality education, after Global Citizens took 130,000 actions. As part of this, Global Citizen platforms saw the following announcements:
[announcement] GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATION REPLENISHMENT: GPE launches replenishment campaign for 2017- 2020 and announces Education Commission recommendation that it step up its financing to grow to $2 billion per year by 2020.
[announcement] RIHANNA was announced as a multi-year Global Ambassador for the Global Partnership for Education.
[announcement] EDUCATION COMMISSION’S FUNDING NEEDS ANNOUNCED: Queen Rania of Jordan, on behalf of the Education Commissioners, announced an effort to raise total spending on education from $1.2 trillion dollars to $3 trillion dollars by 2030.
[call to action] UN ENDORSES EDUCATION COMMISSION FUNDING NEEDS: David Nabarro, UN Adviser on 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development called on the international community to support countries that commit to making reforms and investments needed to transform their education systems.
[commitment] GIRLS EDUCATION - AUSTRALIA: Signed the Statement of Action to Accelerate Marginalised Girls’ Education Outcomes and Gender Equality. They also committed $10 million to empower girls and women in the Indo-Pacific region through education.
“Australia is signing an international statement of action for marginalized girls, initiated by Britain and Global Citizen.” — Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, Australia (video)
[call to action] MICHELLE OBAMA - #LETGIRLSLEARN: First lady Michelle Obama called Global Citizens to action, following up on the #LetGirlsLearn campaign that began last year:
“When I came to this festival last year, I asked you to join me in raising awareness about these girls. Well this year, I’m asking you to take the next step, and actually take action to help these girls learn. Go to letgirlslearn.gov and you’ll find a list of things you can do to get girls into the classrooms across the globe. You can then tweet what you did, or plan to do, to make a difference for these girls using the hashtag #letgirlslearn. Once you’ve taken action, I hope you’ll join me on international day of the girl, October 11th, for a livestream conversation with girls around the world.” — First Lady Michelle Obama, USA (video)
CORPORATES SUPPORT EDUCATION IN EMERGENCIES: In response to 23,738 emails from Global Citizens, three companies will make individual commitments that total more than $4.5 million, and are collectively set to affect the lives of 150,000 people in the coming year:
[commitment] HP: Committed more than $1 million in technology and training support to help refugees, alleviate poverty, and improve the lives of over 100,000 people in the coming year.
[commitment] Western Union Foundation: Committed to a $750,000 grant over three years to the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative, to take their model of education and peacebuilding to Bweyale-Kiryandongo camp in Northern Uganda. The education model provides vocational and entrepreneurship training, among other things and will impact around 10,000 youth under the age of 18.
[commitment] Microsoft: Made five commitments in support of refugees to:
Deliver counseling and psychosocial support for 10,000 refugees and migrants in partnership with Mercy Corps.
Provide free Skype translator support for partner relief organizations.
Provide digital literacy and computer science for 60,000 young refugees via Youthspark, the arabic to german language training program.
Fund 20,000 refugees to complete Imagine Academy Training, a globally recognised technology certification, in partnership with Pearson.
Create an innovation hub in a crisis affected area to provide local refugees with networking, technology and entrepreneurial skills training to access and pursue jobs in technology.
EDUCATION CANNOT WAIT: In response to 147,012 actions by global citizens to get children in emergencies back into school:
[commitment] CANADA: commits C$20 million new funding to the Education Cannot Wait fund, set to affect at least 98,317 lives.
“Global Citizens, Prime Minister Trudeau and I have heard and received LOUD AND CLEAR your calls, tweets and emails - all 185,000 of them telling us that books build lives and that Education Cannot Wait.
Canada recently committed $20M to the Education Cannot Wait fund over the next two years to support children affected by conflict and natural disaster getting back in school and learning.” — Minister for International Development Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada (video)
[commitment] DENMARK: commits $11.3 million new funding from its humanitarian aid allocation to the Education Cannot Wait fund, set to affect at least 71,974 lives. (video)
[accountability] UNICEF: Queen Rania announced on behalf of UNICEF that Education Cannot Wait Fund’s first disbursal of $42 million will be made in 2017, set to reach 1.5 million children over 2 years.
[announcement] FRANCE: President François Hollande of France tweeted back at Rihanna in response to Global Citizens’ campaigning, stating that education is his #1 priority:
“Dear @Rihanna,thank you for your commitment. You’ll soon receive my detailed answer. Education is my #1 priority #EducationCannotWait” — President François Hollande, France
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FOR REFUGEES: in response to 24,000 actions by Global Citizens, we secured the following commitments on increasing university education for refugees:
[commitment] Hult commits 4 full scholarships, with 3 other Ivy League and State universities considering the same next year, working with our partner Blue Rose Compass:
"In the past three months I’ve experienced the power of Global Citizen to create change. Since our partnership began, University deans of admission have experienced a tsunami of activism [including at least] 20,000 emails requesting scholarships for refugees.” — Lorna Solis, Founder of Blue Rose Company
[commitment] Argentina: commits to funding 1000 tertiary scholarships through Global Citizen’s partner Blue Rose Compass, for refugee students to study in Argentina.
"The Minister of Education in Argentina recently contacted us to fund 1000 scholarships for refugees to study in Argentina." — Lorna Solis, Founder of Blue Rose Company.
FOOD & HUNGER
193,943 ACTIONS AND CAMPAIGNING DELIVER 2 COMMITMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WILL REACH 4 MILLION LIVES:
[call to action] ITALY / G7 FOOD: Global Citizen called on Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, to respond to the 13,000 phone calls and tweets made and sent by global citizens urging him to make food a "flagship initiative" of next year's G7 Summit. If made, this commitment will see Italy take on the task of securing funding to deliver the G7’s 2015 promise to lift 500m people out of hunger.
[announcement] FOOD AID: Responding to 100,000 actions by Global Citizens, congressional leaders Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Bob Corker (R-TN) and Christopher Coons (D-DE) announce support for food aid reform. Specifically, Senator Coons called a new emphasis on local and regional procurement and Senator Bob Corker called for reforms to avoid excessive shipping costs.
“Letters make a huge difference. I’ve gotten thousands of them. When you hear from so many people from different corners of your state, you say ‘I better find out what the Global Food Security Act is’ and I found that it’s so so needed… The action of everybody out there makes a huge difference, and that’s why I support food aid reform…”
— Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY
“When disasters and emergency situation strike at home or around the world American food assistance is life saving. But the way we deliver that assistance is broken. That’s why we’ve been working together, to fully reform the American food aid system. By buying more food locally and regionally we can reach people in emergency situations much faster." — Senator Christopher Coons (D-DE)
"By avoiding excessive shipping costs and eliminating inefficiencies we can feed millions more people in need around the world more quickly while saving taxpayer dollars. There’s a long, hard road ahead, and we cannot get there without your help. Global Citizens have taken over 100,000 actions to support food aid reform. Your calls, petitions, and postcards are convincing our colleagues to stand with us in support of food aid reform. So thank you, thank you for your partnership." — Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)
WATER & SANITATION
246,472 ACTIONS AND CAMPAIGNING DELIVER 6 COMMITMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WILL REACH 114 MILLION PEOPLE:
[accountability] NETHERLANDS: announced $100 million per year for three years to live up to the promises made to Global Citizens in 2015, to improve sanitation for 50 million people, and water for 30 million people by 2030 after Global Citizens took 60,000 actions.
At Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day, The Netherlands committed to provide 50 million people with sanitation and 30 million people with safe water by 2030.
On World Water Day (March), Global Citizens tweeted at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking that the commitment is implemented. Within hours, the Ministry tweeted back confirming they had not forgotten their commitment, and that a plan will be presented.
In June, Global Citizens secured 1,711 signatures at Coldplay concert in Amsterdam for a petition calling on The Netherlands to follow through on its 2015 commitment.
In August, Global Citizen hosted a reception in Stockholm during World Water Week to launch our WASH impact report and called on The Netherlands to deliver funding for its commitment. A representative from the Dutch Government spoke at the event, and on the sidelines we handed over a petition with over 47,000 signatures and pushed for delivery of the commitment.
In September, as part of our Water and Sanitation action journey, Global Citizens around the world signed onto the petition calling for the Dutch to deliver on their promise, bringing the total to 60,000 signatures.
“Last year in Washington we made a double promise: in 2030, 50 million people will have access to clean toilets, and 30 million will have clean drinking water. Today, in New York, we double up on that commitment: I am proud to announce another 100 million dollars. We hope others will follow suit. So that in 2030, across the globe clean water and sanitation will not longer be a luxury.” — Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders of the Netherlands
[accountability] Netherlands announces $50 million to the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) for the period 2016-2020 which will directly reach 5 million people.
This pledge will be moving forward with the Netherlands’ 2015 commitment to provide 30 million with water and 50 million with sanitation by 2030
Prime Minister Rutte is a member of the High Level Panel on Water (HLPW), consisting of 10 Heads of Government, 2 special advisors and co-convened by the United Nations and World Bank Group. As a member of the HLPW, PM Rutte serves as a leader in the global water and sanitation agenda. Because the HLPW will motivate effective action and advocate on financing and implementation, Prime Minister Rutte’s voice as a panel member for fecal sludge management has a huge impact on securing global access to water and sanitation.
“That’s why I joined the High Level Panel on Water. That’s why we send our experts to wherever people suffer from flooding or drought. To work collectively on long-term planning and short-term innovations, and build a water-secure world.” — Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands (video)
[commitment] NIGERIA: commits to eradicate the practice of open defecation by 2025 or even sooner.
"On behalf of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, I am here to pledge our commitment that the practice of open defecation will be eradicated in Nigeria by 2025 or even sooner. This will improve health, grow economies, and boost the dignity of all our citizens." — Environment Minister Amina Mohammed, Nigeria; and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council Chairperson
[commitment] WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION COLLABORATIVE COUNCIL: commits to ensure that at least 15 million people are empowered to stop the practice of open defecation by 2020.
"I am also honoured to stand before you as the Chair of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, a powerful change agent at the center of the global movement to deliver on universal access to sanitation and hygiene. In partnership with communities, NGOs, governments, international organizations and the private sector, we will ensure that at least 15 million people are empowered to stop the practice of open-defecation by 2020." — Chairperson Amina Mohammed, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council and Environment Minister of Nigeria
[commitment] SOUTH AFRICA
Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency for South Africa, commits on behalf of President Jacob Zuma to ending open defecation in South Africa by 2030.
“Today, on behalf of President Zuma, I am proud to announce South Africa’s commitment to a better tomorrow by ending the practice of open defecation in South Africa by 2030 or sooner.” — Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency, South Africa
As member of the High Level Panel on Water, South Africa also commits to ensure the panel prioritizes sanitation and fecal sludge management in actions.
“Through our leadership on the High Level Panel on Water, our Government also commits today to ensure the panel champions proper sanitation and waste management services in cities around the world. We support a world in which children thrive instead of suffering from disease, malnutrition, and stunting. A world in which everyone has the opportunity for a dignified and full life.“ — Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency, South Africa
[accountability] WORLD BANK: announced that they have disbursed $6 billion to date, of the $15 billion that was committed at Global Citizen Festival 2014, affecting 100 million lives so far. This follows ongoing campaigning by Global Citizen staff and more than 50,000 actions by Global Citizens in 2016 calling on the World Bank to deliver on their commitment.
At the 2014 Global Citizen Festival held in Central Park New York, President of the World Bank Dr. Jim Yong Kim announced a commitment of $15 billion over 5 years towards improving access to clean water and sanitation.
At the 2015 Global Citizen Festival, Dr. Jim Yong Kim updated on progress on the World Bank’s commitment, noting that along with partners, the World Bank had already provided $4 billion of its $15 billion commitment.
In 2016, Global Citizens tweeted (18,575 times) and emailed (34,919 times) at Dr. Kim to prioritize sanitation, as President of the World Bank and co-convener of the High Level Panel on Water that includes 10 heads of government.
Following this campaign, Jennifer Sara, Director for the World Bank Group’s Water Global Practice, announced that $6 billion has been disbursed, reaching 100 million lives.
HEALTH
299,427 ACTIONS AND CAMPAIGNING DELIVER 6 COMMITMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WILL REACH 79.9 MILLION PEOPLE :
POLIO: The world is 99.9 per cent forever, the world needs to mobilize an additional $1.5 billion. Global Citizens took 134,470 actions on this issues in the run up to the Festival, resulting in:
[commitment] Luxembourg: Prime Minister Xavier Bettel announced at least €2 million for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, set to affect the lives of more than 3 million people.
"We pledge to give at least 500,000 Euros to the [Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)] initiative each year, so a total of 2 million euros between 2016 and 2019! Luxembourg will stay on board until the very last case of polio has been eradicated, and I hope others will follow our lead with more multi-year pledges." — Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg
[commitment] Malta: Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced $30,000 to GPEI through to 2019 - a symbolic commitment set to affect 60,000 lives - and called on other leading commonwealth donors - United Kingdom, Canada and Australia - to step up.
“As the Chair of the Commonwealth, I urge other commonwealth countries to follow through on their promise to announce additional funding to finish the job on polio.” — Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Malta (video)
[announcement] Canada: Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau responded via special video message with Usher. Global Citizens will continue to call on him to match his words, with real dollar figures:
“Lately my office has been flooded with phone calls and tweets from many of you. Thanks Rihanna! I've heard your voices loud and clear on a whole range of issues – from supporting the eradication of polio, to ensuring every girl everywhere has the chance to go to school. Canada has long supported efforts to fight polio, which is now 99.9% eliminated. And we will be a strong partner through to the end. Thank you for keeping these issues on our global agenda. Keep calling, keep tweeting, keep lighting up our switchboards. We're listening, and we're taking action. You've shown to the world that change starts with you. Together, we will end it for good.” — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada
[announcement] GLOBAL FUND: In the run up to the replenishment for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Global Citizens took 120,000 actions to celebrate Canadian leadership and secure commitments to fight three of the world's most deadly diseases. This culminated on Saturday September 17th in the Global Citizen Concert to End AIDS, TB and Malaria, where Global Citizen hosted PM Trudeau, Bill Gates and 12,000 global citizens in Montreal, as the last part of the formal program for the Global Fund replenishment that raised $12.9 billion, which will save 8 million lives in the next 3 years. Global Citizen’s actions played a supporting role in three of these commitments, each of which were reaffirmed on our stage:
The Government of Canada committed CAN $800 million which is set to affect 38 million lives.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation committed $600 million which is set to affect 37 million lives.
Comic Relief committed $16.7 million which is set to affect 1 million lives.
GLOBAL GOALS ACCOUNTABILITY & ANNOUNCEMENTS
[call to action] REFUGEES: Samantha Power, Brendon Cox, Sarah Mardani and Alek Wek highlight the importance of welcoming refugees and tackling the refugee crisis. Global Citizen called for action on refugees, calling on the G20 to find global solutions:
“Chancellor #Merkel thanks for standing #withrefugees. Please use the #G20 to find global solutions to the refugee crisis @RegSprecher”
[accountability] WORLD BANK: President Jim Kim commits to raise at least $52 billion for the World Bank’s International Development Association replenishment before the end of 2016 to fulfil their previous commitment to lift 100m people out of extreme poverty, made at 2015 Global Citizen Festival.
IDA is the World Bank’s main tool to fight poverty, and between 2011-2015, it provided over 400 million people with essential health services, 17 million pregnant women with prenatal care, 50 million people with access to better water services, and 205 million children with immunizations.
“Every three years our donors contribute to a fund for the poorest countries to create jobs, improve the quality of education, and make healthcare accessible. Three years ago we mobilized a record 52 billion dollars. We believe, in a couple of months, we will mobilize billions of dollars more than that. But we need you to tell the leaders of your government that nothing is more important than giving the poorest and most vulnerable an opportunity for a better life.
The rate of poverty is now below 10% for the first time in history, and it’s falling every year. And so you are the first generation in history that has the opportunity to end extreme poverty. We can do it. We must do it.” — President Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group
[accountability] PEOPLE’S REPORT CARD: Global Citizen teamed up with Social Progress Imperative to launch the People’s Report Card on the Global Goals, giving a letter grade to countries for their progress to date on the goals.
“Our world today scores a C+ overall. Every country has room for improvement - we’ll be monitoring them and updating the People’s Report Cards each year until 2030.” — Managing Director - Campaigns, Simon Moss, Global Citizen
[announcement] GLOBAL GOALS LEADERS AND LAGGARDS: Global Citizen highlighted the countries who have done the most, and those who most need to redouble efforts to achieve the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Global Citizen acknowledged the progress and commitment of Senegal, Georgia, and Germany, and called on the Central African Republic, Brazil and Switzerland to increase efforts.
[announcement] CONSTELLATION: Astronaut’s Ron Garan, Leland Melvin and Anousheh Ansari announce Constellation (constellation.earth), a new coalition to inspire change.
“Tonight we are here to announce the formation of Constellation - a coalition of international astronauts dedicated to shifting our perspective to inspire profound social and ecological change.” — Astronaut Ron Garan
[announcement] HOPELAND: Deborra-lee Furness announced the launch of Hopeland, a community fighting for all children to have safe, nurturing, and permanent families:
“We’re launching Hopeland here today, in front of thousands of passionate and motivated global citizens like you, as well as millions watching around the world... Hopeland is a community that seeks to fight for the right of all these children to have a safe, nurturing and permanent family. If you too, are united by family, be driven by action now and sign the declaration of dependence. Dependence is not a dirty word, we all depend on someone.” — Co-Founder Deborra-lee Furness, Hopeland
[announcement] CATERPILLAR FOUNDATION: Caterpillar Foundation President, Michele Sullivan, was joined on stage by Dr. Nathalie Colas from Haiti. The Caterpillar Foundation has donated a generator to the St. Luke’s Foundation hospital where Dr. Colas works, enabling 24/7 electricity access that will keep patients alive.
“I am so grateful for the gift of the generator to provide energy to my hospital so that we can save more lives in Haiti.” — Assistant Director Dr. Nathalie Colas, St. Luke’s Hospital
[announcement] WAISLITZ GLOBAL CITIZEN AWARD: The Waislitz Global Citizen Award is an annual award presented to outstanding individuals who are actively engaged with global issues. Gayle King introduced the three winners, saying “Our three extraordinary winners’ brilliant work is changing the world - tapping into solar power to support subsistence farmers all over the globe, by providing better futures for orphans in Malawi, and by converting organic waste into fertilizer for farmers in Rwanda”.
Melissa Kushner, founder of goods for good addresses the urgent need of orphan care in Malawi by building small businesses. Received $15,000.
Elise Kendall, founder of Kinosol SBC, an organization committed to improving the lives of rural families through a small-scale, solar-powered food dehydrator. Received $30,000.
Clarisse Uwineza, founder of Environmental Protection and Organics, which helps reduce waste and empower farmers to produce more food by converting organic waste into high-quality bio-organic fertilizer. Received $50,000.
[announcement] GEORGE HARRISON GLOBAL CITIZEN AWARD: Paul Simon presented the inaugural George Harrison Global Citizen Award to the late George Harrison posthumously, in honor of his decades of tireless advocacy on behalf of the world’s poor. Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, and son, Dhani Harrison, accepted the award on his behalf.
[call to action] VOTER REGISTRATION: Global Citizen called on all supporters to register and vote in the forthcoming elections. In 2012, only about 41 percent of young people reported voting. Global Citizens were called on to vote for leaders that represent your views on clean water, gender equality, education, and eradicating poverty once and for all.