2005 was a landmark year in the fight against poverty.

In January 2005 a Global Call to Action against Poverty was launched at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre to lay down the gauntlet for world leaders to achieve a breakthrough on world poverty.

In less than 12 months, GCAP has grown into the world's largest ever anti-poverty movement, whose organisations together represent more than 150 billion people globally, with campaign actions in more than 80 countries. In 2006 we are still acting together to hold leaders to their promises, and to achieve more to eradicate poverty.

There were some victories on debt cancellation and aid but tragically rich countries betrayed the world’s poor by allowing the colossal inequities in world trade to persist. GCAP will unite again in solidarity in 2006 to continue to challenge the structures of poverty and injustice and to ensure world leaders take the necessary steps to assign poverty to history.

GCAP has recently decided to continue working together as a global movement – this decision was taken at a recent global planning meeting in Beirut.