New York – More than a dozen world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with prominent musicians and celebrity hosts are scheduled to converge at the 2014 Global Citizen Festival to voice tangible commitments that could affect the lives of 50 million people by ending extreme poverty by 2030.
According to the organizers of the Global Citizen Festival, in addition to newly elected Indian Prime Minister Modi, the distinguished list features Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General; Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group; Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway; Sushil Koirala, Prime Minister of Nepal; Dr. Roger Kolo, Prime Minister, Republic of Madagascar; Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the Prime Minister of Denmark; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia and Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Hugh Evans, CEO of The Global Poverty Project, said, “It is a monumental acknowledgement of the actions taken by Global Citizens that Prime Minister’s Modi and Hasina, together with dozens of other world leaders will take the stage at the Global Citizen Festival to announce extraordinary commitments on behalf of the world’s poor.” Calling on the global political community, Evans noted, “We know that ending extreme poverty by 2030 is within our reach, but we need the support of political leaders around the world to accelerate the significant policy changes necessary to eliminate it altogether.”
“I am delighted to join the Global Citizen Festival 2014 and to share Bangladesh’s unique experience and achievement in education, sanitation, health and women’s empowerment. The People of Bangladesh are determined to end extreme poverty by 2030 and I call on the global community to assist us in our efforts to create a pro-people, pro-planet, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable world for all,” said Hasina, Bangladesh Prime Minister.
Welcoming the great efforts NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “We welcome these leaders and stand with them in their fight to end poverty,” adding, “When this distinguished group of world leaders turn their attention to New York City for the Global Citizen Festival, they will see a city that is deeply committed to ending poverty and to protecting the rights, enhancing educational opportunities and the health of all of our children.”
With the Global Citizen Festival slated for live broadcast for the first time on MSNBC, with an hourlong prime-time special of highlights on NBC airing the same night, the star line up includes JAY Z, No Doubt, Carrie Underwood, fun., The Roots, and Tiësto and the stars are expected to call for accelerated progress in the areas of vaccines, education and sanitation.
Moreover, a high-level assembly of leaders from the public, private and social sectors will also take part in this year’s Festival. Børge Brende, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway; Mogens Jensen, Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation, Denmark, Junaid Ahmad, Senior Director for the World Bank Group’s Water Global Practice; Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals; Helena Thybell, Global Manager of H&M Conscious Foundation; Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever; Martin Riant, Group President, Global Baby, Feminine & Family Care of Procter & Gamble; Sarina Prabasi, Chief Executive Officer of WaterAid America; Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA; Elmo & Raya of Sesame Street, will add their voices to further the movement to end extreme poverty by 2030.
This year’s Festival will also feature the inaugural Global Citizen Honorary Congressional Host Committee. The committee, comprised of leading members of the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, will include: Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR 3), Congressman Charles Dent (R-PA 15), Congressman Richard Hanna (R-NY 22), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA 13), Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY 17), Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY 12), Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX 2), Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL 18).
The partners of the 2014 Global Citizen Festival, include: Caterpillar Inc., Citi, H&M, World Childhood Foundation, The Riot House, Noise4Good, EKOCYCLE, BidKind, Universal Music Group, iHeartRadio, and The Paramount Hotel. The Festival has also partnered with leading non-profit groups, including: UNFPA, the Global Partnership for Education, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, The Malala Fund, WaterAid, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, WASH Advocates, US Fund for UNICEF, Sesame Workshop and more.