As global policymakers, politicians and financial institutions convened at the United Nations Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), alongside over 1,500 civil society organisations from across continents, staged bold and coordinated actions demanding a complete overhaul of the global financial architecture.

From Asia to Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean to Europe, the message rang out loud and clear: “Cancel the Debt, Change the System!”

📽️ Watch the Global Mobilisation Video

Over 1,500 organisations and individuals — including marginalised communities, informal workers, Indigenous and Dalit groups, women’s networks, youth and grassroots alliances — united to demand:

✊ Cancel the Debt

🏛️ Reform the Global Financial Architecture

📜 Adopt a Strong UN Tax Convention and a UN Framework Convention on Sovereign Debt

🔥 End Fossil Fuels

💰 Tax the Super-Rich and Big Corporations

🛡️ Guarantee Universal Social Protection Floors

Demonstrations inside FfD4

In Seville, civil society organisations including GCAP, Latindadd, ActionAid International, Amnesty International, Oxfam International, Greenpeace, Caritas Internationalis and Action for Sustainable Development, staged demonstrations inside the FfD4 venue itself.

They also took to the streets of Seville in a bold demonstrations. GCAP organised a stunt for Economic Justice at Jardines de Cristina, Seville on 29 June. Their united voice pushed back against inaction and business-as-usual rhetoric, demanding structural changes anchored in justice, equality and sustainability.

Regional highlights: A tidal wave of mobilisations

Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC)

The LAC region released a compelling video highlighting the mounting debt crisis and escalating climate disasters.

📽️ Watch the video

Civil society organisations in countries such as Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru held powerful mobilisations, highlighting that the region is drowning in debt while the planet burns. Their call is urgent and clear: it’s time to cancel the debt and deliver justice for people and the planet.

Asia

In Nepal, a signature campaign led by the Asia Dalit Rights Forum (GCAP Social Justice Task Force) and initiated by Hon. Top Bahadur Magar, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Nepal, saw participation from over 120 people. The rallying cry: Stand with the Billions, Not Billionaires.

Demonstration outside US Embassy, Philippines

Civil society actors coordinated by the NGO Federation of Nepal (GCAP Nepal) staged powerful demonstrations calling for a bold transformation of the global financial architecture.

In India, multiple actions were held:

✊Nomadic and Denotified Tribe volunteers in Bhilwara, Rajasthan displayed conducted a demonstration to show solidarity        with the campaign.
✊Informal workers in Panvel, Maharashtra stood up for universal health, education, and social protection.
✊A demonstration at the Dhauli Peace Monument in Bhubaneswar amplified calls for a people-centred finance reform.

In Bangladesh, stunts were held in front of the Supreme Court and outside the National Press Club demanding just taxation and sovereign debt mechanisms.

In Pakistan, civil society led by GCAP Pakistan organised a mobilisation at the historic Patan Minara in Rahim Yar Khan, with calls for debt cancellation and social investment.

In the Philippines, GCAP members, including women and senior citizens, rallied in front of the U.S. Embassy demanding economic justice and debt cancellation.

In Cambodia, SDG youth and civil society organisations united under the banner “Stand with the Billions, Not Billionaires,” demanding debt cancellation and equitable financing.

Africa

Demonstration in Democratic Republic of Congo

From West to East and Southern Africa, the continent saw coordinated actions in: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Niger, Somalia, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Chad, Guinea Conakry, Mauritania, Rwanda, The Gambia, Congo-DRC, Kenya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Togo — all echoing the same demands for economic justice, redistribution, and climate-resilient public investment.

Europe

© Jess Hurd 28/06/2025 London. Giant Jenga stunt, part of a global day of action ahead of FfD4, a coalition of UK charities and campaigners coming together to highlight the need for debt cancellation and put pressure on decision makers through a stunt and accompanying rally in Gabriel’s Wharf in London. Photo credit: Jess Hurd

In London, civil society held public stunts and actions in solidarity with global movements, calling on European governments to support a strong UN Tax Convention and commit to debt cancellation and end fossil fuel.

This Is Only the Beginning

These global actions send a clear message: People across the globe are no longer waiting for top-down change. They are mobilising, demanding and reimagining together.

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