On November 11th, the United Nations Millennium Campaign in Portugal, Objectivo 2015, joined Pobreza Zero (the Global Call to Action against Poverty in Portugal), Micah Challenge and Africa-Europe Faith & Justice Network for a joint hearing with Portugal’s President, Aníbal Cavaco Silva.

Eveline Herfkens of the UN Millennium Campaign presented the new Aid Effectiveness Brochure, produced by the UN Millennium Campaign and OECD, at the Portuguese Parliament. Eveline was accompanied by Portugal’s Undersecretary of State for Cooperation and Development, João Cravinho, and representatives of the Parliament’s Commission for Foreign Affairs.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including farmers, workers, women’s, faith-based and students’ groups and organizations, have issued a statement declaring that it is clear more than ever, that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are Europe’s means of locking-in the fundamentally unequal relationships between Africa and Europe. Viewed from Africa, this is nothing less than, “re-colonisation.”

Every minute a woman dies due to complications in pregnancy or
childbirth, adding up to half a million women dying every year. Another
10-15 million women suffer serious or long-lasting illnesses or
disabilities.

“No woman should die giving life,” said UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid.
“To have a healthy society, you have to have healthy mothers.”

In many countries, however, progress in maternal health has been slow.
In some, the situation has actually deteriorated over the last 20 years.

From December 7th to 9th, more than 70 European and African leaders met in Lisbon, Portugal, to attend the EU-Africa Summit. Seven years after the Cairo summit, the Lisbon event ended with an ambitious action plan and a promise to meet again in 2010, but wasn’t able to tackle key issues such as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) and human rights.

From December 7th to 9th Lisbon hosts the 2nd EU-Africa Summit. This crucial event offers the opportunity to convene the 1st Africa-Europe Youth Summit.

The Youth Summit, held under the patronage of Portugal’s President, will allow over 250 youth representatives from Africa and Europe to express their main concerns, to address recommendations and to state their priorities with regard to youth and youth related policies – conveying them directly to the Heads of States attending the Summit.

Over 43.7 million people, in 127 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. Read Full Press Release »

From all parts of the world, millions stood and spoke out to demand a more urgent political response to the growing crisis of global poverty and inequality. They called on their world leaders to keep their commitments made in the Millennium Development Goals.

Benidorm (Alicante, Spain) — The official presentation of the commitment by Spain, Portugal and Italy to promote the MDGs was completed this evening at Mal Pas Beach in Benidorm, where thousands of locals and tourists swam in the ocean with red t-shirts to promote the Millennium Development Goals. The event was simultaneously held at Carcavelos Beach in Portugal and at the Aquafan water park in Italy. This marks the first time that all three countries have collaborated together on a MDG awareness project.