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Youth leaders from more than 100 countries are demanding action from world leaders today as they hold the #UpForSchool rally and launch a major petition.

With the 69th United Nations General Assembly geting underway, the activists will gather in New York to demand urgent measures听on behalf of millions of children currently excluded from school because they are child labourers, married too young, discriminated against, exploited or living in war-torn regions where their schools are under attack.

Despite promises made by world leaders in 2000 to have every child in school by the end of 2015, 58 million are still being denied their right to education.

To drive action over the next 500 days, young leaders have created a global call to action 鈥� the #UpForSchool Petition 鈥� to demonstrate unprecedented public support for education. It will be delivered to world leaders at the UN General Assembly in September 2015 and is backed by a coalition of more than 100 businesses, faith leaders, NGOs, teachers and influential individuals.

The peittion has already gone to 100 schools in Pakistan and has been signed by more than 10,000 children.

Baela Raza Jamil, of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) ( 鈥淐entre of Education and Consciousness鈥� ) in Pakistan, will be at the rally. He said: 鈥淚n one week more than 10,000 children have signed the #UpForSchool petition and it is now being taken door-to-door to more than 84,000 homes and 200 schools connecting every village, town and city.

鈥淵oung people in Pakistan are leading this demand. They are demanding that every child must be able to go to school, without danger of discrimination.鈥�

Youth leaders will be joined at the New York rally by Gordon Brown, rights advocate Gra莽a Machel, Angry Birds marketing chief Peter Vesterbacka, Ricken Patel of the campaigns website Avaaz, Hadiza Bela Usman from the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Ahmad Alhendawi and CNN鈥檚 Isha Sesay.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is also backing the petition. He said: 鈥淚 am #UpForSchool. Over the past year from Nigeria to Pakistan we have seen education come under attack. Moreover so many millions are not getting the schooling they need for the best possible start in life. I鈥檓 very encouraged that young people across the world have launched the #UpForSchool campaign. You can count on my support.鈥�

School children in Mardan, Pakistan, show their signed petitions

Rainn Wilson, actor, comedian and star of the American TV show The Office, is also urging people to sign the petition.

He said: 鈥淚, like you, am #UpForSchool. Let鈥檚 get this global petition going. Children all over the world have a right to get education. So let鈥檚 start this petition. Let鈥檚 start this movement. This is how it begins, #UpForSchool鈥�

The youth rally is听co-hosted by A World at School and the Office of Special Envoy for Global Education in collaboration with the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Youth. It will be held at New York University鈥檚 Kimmell Center and will be followed by a public rally at 6pm in Washington Square Park.

Mr Brown will address the youth rally and say: 鈥淧rogress on getting children into school has stalled, aid to education is in rapid decline and 58 million children are being denied their right to an education. In the face of this crisis young people are connecting together, mobilising and demanding action from their leaders.鈥�

Bring Back Our Girls leader Ms Usman said: 鈥淵outh from around the world, whether it is Pakistan, Nigeria or Gaza, are coming together and sending the world a message. Together we can create a movement no government, politicians or leader can ignore. It is time to rise up for education鈥�.

Mr Vesterbacka said: 鈥淭hings have changed. Young people are able to connect with each other like never before. They are mobilising and saying that an attack on one school is an attack on all schools. There is a powerful movement emerging and it is being supported by creative and innovate businesses and individuals鈥�.

CNN presenter Isha Sesay said: 鈥淲e have seen powerful movements emerge after attacks on schools and school children in specific countries. We are now seeing young people link these together and seeing this as an attack on all children.鈥�

Chernor Bah, co-founder of A World at School and youth activist, is leading the young people in their campaign. He said: 鈥淎round the world, from Pakistan to Nigeria, Syria to Gaza, we鈥檙e starting to connect. To rise up and demand action. Education is our right, no matter who we are or where we鈥檙e born. And no child in the world should be denied it.鈥�

Campaigner and A World at School co-founder Sarah Brown said: 鈥淓ducation saves lives. Those with at least a basic education, earn more, they and their children are healthier and have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the stability of their communities and growth of their economies. We have an urgent deadline between now and the end of 2015 to bring about real change. Leaders must keep their promise and respond urgently with the financial investments and political commitments needed to get every child in to school.鈥�

Ahmad Alhendawi, United Nations Secretary-General鈥檚 Envoy on Youth said: 鈥淵oung leaders from more than 85 countries are launching a global call to action 鈥� the #UpForSchool petition. We must do everything we can to support these young people as they mobilise together around the world. Join us. Stand #UpForSchool.鈥�

The event will also honour inspirational youth leaders on the front lines supporting education in their communities by announcing the recipients of the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education鈥檚 Youth Courage Awards.