that end world hunger, poverty and suffering.
Addressing a huge crowd of over 15 thousand politicians,musicians, peace activitists,celebrities and civil society leaders at a public mobilization and poverty eradication outdoor event in Munich, Germany, President said the year 2015 is a pivotal year to change the future of world's people and planet.
The public gathering was organized by the international lobby and campaign organization ONE and The Global Poverty Project. The campaigners also included German and International Civil Society groups called on German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders to overcome extreme poverty by 2030.
The occasion was held at the Königsplatz in the center of Munich.The message to world leaders was: “It’s time to keep your promise and show courageous leadership – we must act now to end extreme poverty.” under the theme: “United Against Poverty/Zusammen gegen Armut,”
President Sirleaf said the decisions and actions that global leaders and actors collectively take in the next few months will go a long way to determining whether development progress continues or stalls.
She said in September, at the United Nations General Assembly, leaders of the nations of the world will adopt a new agenda. Building upon the MDGs,they will establish global goals for sustainable development to be achieved within the next 15 years.
The Liberian leader said in July in Addis Ababa, important decisions will be taken at the Finance Development meeting when nations, both rich and poor will demonstrate commitment by policies and resources to the New World Order and in December, in Paris, nations will determine the path to respond to a changing world due to climate change.
President Sirleaf noted that an important precursor to these meetings will take place from June 7-8 in Germany as primary leaders of the world, the G7, meet to discuss the global economy, global security and the development policies that will drive the new global agenda.
''The call from this audience today, is a call to the G7 and to leaders of rich and developed nations all over the world to support the ambitious and robust post 2015 development goals to commit to provide 0.7 percent of gross national income in official development assistance, to commit to reduce the debt distress of the highly indebted poor countries'' the President said.
President Sirleaf told the cheering crowd that it has been 25 years since the end of the cold war, 25 years since Nelson Mandela walked out of prison, 25 years since democracy began to sweep full force across the developing world, and now 15 years since the international community established the Millennium Development Goals,
''there is no doubt that enormous progress has been made in developing countries as a result of strong international partnership, Sub-Saharan Africa is a clear example where Malaria mortality has been cut nearly in half since 2000 and AIDS related deaths fell by one-third in just eight years between 2005 and 2013''
She said the mortality rate for children under five has fallen by nearly half since 1990, literally saving millions of lives every year; Primary school enrollments have jumped from 52% to 77% since 1990, with the biggest increases for girls. Primary school enrollments for girls are now almost at parity with boys, which is a huge difference from 25 years ago and that the share of people in sub-Saharan Africa living in extreme poverty has fallen from 61% in 1993 to 47% in 2011.
Quoting a World Bank's studies, President revealed that almost half the world’s over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (567 million people) is less than the wealth of the world’s 7 richest people combined; nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names and less than one percent of what the world spent every year on weapons should have put every child into school by the year 2000.
President told the gathering that the world can eradicate extreme poverty, get more children in school with much higher quality education, ensure that women have greater property rights and greater access to health, education and finance.
She noted by sustained development with people at the center, the world can stop illegal migration, and remove the global threats of infectious disease. We can – as call for in the Sustainable Development Goals – strive for a world that is just, equitable and in the year 2030 a World Without Extreme Poverty.
Also speaking at the event was the German Federal Development Minister Gerd Muller who said the event demonstrates the campaigners determination to see a world that is just and liveable for every human population.
Mr. Muller said the world leaders need to act to ensure equitable distribution of the worls's resources thus ending hunger, poverty and disease.
Among those attending the event were ; Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizens,Adrian Lovett, Executive Director of ONE,American musician Usher and
Kweku Mandela the grand son of the late South African President and Civil Rights Campaigner, Nelson Mendela.