In 1988, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to eradicate polio globally, which resulted in the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and commitment from member states to achieve the target set for eradication by 2000. Four main strategies are defined for polio eradication: high routine immunization coverage, conducting supplemental immunization activities, acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance and mop up immunization campaigns targeting high-risk areas. The polio eradication effort has gained momentum globally, resulting in the drastic reduction of the number of polio-endemic countries, from 125 countries in 1988 to only three countries in 2012: Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. India has recently been removed from the list of polio endemic countries having not confirmed a case of wild polio since January 2011. A revised target for polio eradication has been set for interruption of transmission by end of 2012. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is probably the biggest global health initiative ever undertaken. Failure to achieve the goal will represent the biggest public health failure ever and would have lasting impact on public perceptions of what public health can accomplish. In this regard, the WHO Executive Board, in January 2012, passed a resolution for consideration by the World Health Assembly at its next meeting, on declaration of polio eradication as programmatic emergency for global public health and the transformation of GPEI into an emergency operation by partners and donors. In response to this situation partners and donors have initiated emergency operations at the headquarters level (activation of WHO’s Strategic Health Operations Center (SHOC) and CDC’s Emergency Operations Center [EOC]). Similarly, Governments and partners at the regional and country office levels are expected to initiate an emergency mode of operation with a change in business practices, proper delegation of authority, streamlined processes, accountability and transparency. A heightened collaborative effort of all stakeholders at all levels will be crucial to realizing interruption of wild polio virus by December 2012. Civil Society in endemic and re-infected countries can play very important roles by mobilizing communities to participate in polio immunization activities , demanding that governments provide adequate and high quality services, , by pointing out where these activities are not going as they should, and insisting their countries maintain their commitments and performance. The panel discussion by experts and stakeholders in polio eradication will address different topics with the aim of advocacy for increased commitment by all: 1) Polio as public health emergency of international concern and operational implications; 2) Global and regional polio eradication status; 3) Ethiopia’s efforts to sustain polio free status; and 4) CORE Group contribution towards global polio eradication.