Today, June 16th, civil society organizations and social movements kick off a 10-day initiative calling on all to take action in the lead up to the United Nations Conference on the Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development on 24-26 June in New York City.

The ’10 Days of Action: Countdown to Commitments’ aims to mobilize public opinion and delivers the message to world leaders that civil society is watching and expects just, equitable and sustainable solutions to the financial and economic crisis which are focused on the urgent needs of people and the planet.

The ‘10 Days of Action’ begins with a focus on the Day of the African Child to raise awareness on how the economic crisis is hitting the most vulnerable and marginalized the hardest, such as children, women, small farmers and the working poor, among others. With close to a billion people living on barely a meal a day, and millions living on $2 a day, the financial and economic crisis is reversing progress and throwing millions back into poverty. The financial crisis will be resolved, however poverty will continue.

The UN Conference will be the first opportunity for all countries – developed and developing nations alike - to have a seat at the table to discuss possible solutions to this systemic crisis.

Please check out the ‘10 Days’ CALENDAR OF EVENTS and Blog at: http://tendays.socialwatch.org/