1.3 million people demand action

A united voice

The signatures were gathered over the past year by various organisations in the UK campaigning about the Millennium Development Goals. They were presented to Nick Clegg, who will be representing the UK at next week’s UN summit. Thanks again to all of Concern’s supporters who added to this total with over 10,000 signatures from our Women Can’t Wait campaign. 

The event was organised by Bond and supported by Concern. 

Enthusiasm and support

The campaigns team and seven of Concern’s supporters attended the event to hear directly from those in power on how they intend to contribute towards the Millennium Development Goals. Natasha Adams, Concern’s campaigns and parliamentary officer, said: 

It was great to be able to meet our supporters, and we’d like to thank them all for their enthusiasm and support in helping to bring Concern’s ‘Unheard Voices’ to the event.

Margery Wilson, a teacher from Essex and a Concern supporter for many years, added: 

Having concerns worldwide myself, I was originally drawn in by the name, which made it stand out for me amongst other similar and worthy causes...Becoming a supporter helped to take away feelings of powerlessness and meant I could help those who needed it most.

Renewed commitments

Andrew Mitchell, International Development Secretary of State, also attended the event. He echoed the sentiment of the Unheard Voices campaign by reiterating that the voices of the world’s poorest people must be listened to by decision makers. He also underlined the government’s intention of putting women and children at the forefront of the UK’s international development programmes. Speaking more broadly about achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the Deputy Prime Minister said that it is "a moral commitment to keep the promises that were made in 2000.”  

Continue striving

Concern will continue striving to make sure these promises are kept, and will need the support of its dedicated campaigners to make this happen.