“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."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 17 October 2007....

What is Stand Up and Speak Out?

STAND UP and SPEAK OUT is a worldwide call to take action against poverty and inequality and for the Millennium Development Goals. Each year during the 24 hour period between the 16th and 17th of October millions of people around the world literally stand up and speak out to show their solidarity with the world’s poor and to remind their governments to continue progress towards implementing the Millennium Development Goals by working to eradicate poverty through debt cancellation, more and better aid, fair trade, stamping out corruption and good governance.

Central to the UN’s attempts to end world poverty is the promotion of justice, human rights and respect for the rule of law - the essential tools necessary to reverse the causes of inequality which leave millions in wretched poverty. Consequently, lawyers are some of the best equipped people in the world to assist in the fight against poverty and inequality.

What did the YPN do?

In 2007, YPN lent its support to the Stand Up and Speak Out campaign by partnering with members of the legal profession in a special event held on the morning of 17 October in Lincoln's Inn Field. The event, which was attended by over 100 lawyers, was held in partnership with the Advocates for International Development (A4ID), the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society, Bar Human Rights, Bar Pro Bono Unit, BPP, College of Law, LawWorks, Ministry of Justice, Queen Mary Student Pro Bono Group and UCL Law Society.

At the event, Bar Council Chairman Geoffrey Vos QC, Law Society Vice-President Paul Marsh and ILEX Vice-President Mark Bishop read a statement in support of the UN’s Speak Out initiative, which stressed the shared belief that an end to poverty and inequality is a matter of justice, rather than charity.

YPN is proud to have stood with 43.7 million other people around the world in support of the campaign, making this year a new world record. For more information on how you can be a part of 'Stand Up and Speak Out', visit www.standagainstpoverty.org