1.2m people in Bangladesh sign the #UpForSchool Petition and demand education for all

Pictures show (top left) Sir Fazle Hasan Abed and (all others) BRAC collecting #UpForSchool signatures from across Bangladesh

An incredible effort by the Bangladeshi organisation BRAC has resulted in more than 1.2 million signatures being collected for the #UpForSchool Petition. BRAC used its vast network of schools and adolescent development clubs across the country to gather support for the petition – which calls on world leaders to deliver education for all children without fear of danger or discrimination.

Celebrating this amazing achievement, BRAC’s founder and Chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed said: “BRAC is proud to be associated with the #UpForSchool campaign. I hope the world leaders will hear the voices of our youth and ensure that education remains the priority agenda for years to come.”

Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, paid tribute to BRAC’s contribution to the youth-led #UpForSchool campaign, which highlights the fact that 58 million children are out of school around the world and the obstacles they face – including child marriage, child labour and discrimination against girls and children with disabilities.

Mr Brown said: “More than 1.2 million people across Bangladesh have come together to demand action from world leaders to get every girl and boy into school, no matter who they are or where they are born. Every signature is important as we know that big numbers of people mobilising over an issue cannot be ignored.

“The signatures collected by Sir Fazle Hasan Abed and the team at BRAC are a reflection of their important work supporting and empowering the most excluded and marginalised communities across Bangladesh. Sir Fazle Hasan Abed is a great leader in education and the work being done by BRAC in Bangladesh and around the world is inspiring and is changing the lives of millions of young people. These are the voices that world leaders must listen to this year and they must respond with real action.”

BRAC is a global leader in creating opportunities for the poor. It spreads proven anti-poverty solutions used in Bangladesh to 11 countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

In September, young people came together in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to launch the world’s biggest petition for education. It was supported by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Mr Brown and international advocate Graca Machel, along with a global network or organisations joining together to demand action to get every girl and boy in to school.

Gathering signatures is just the start. As the petition grows, it will be delivered to some of the world’s most powerful people to get their support for an education for every child.

The more names gathered on the petition, the harder it will be for them to ignore the message. We know that nothing changes without pressure.

Get more news about the campaign and sign the #UpForSchool Petition now.