In posts one may find that I often mention the Millennium Development Goals, and if countries are on track to meet them. Thus I wanted to provide background on the MDGs and how they came to be established, in order to give you a better understanding of what they are and what needs to be done to achieve them.
In September 2000 the leaders of 189 UN member states adopted the Millennium Declaration, committing their countries to a stronger global effort to reduce poverty, improve health and promote peace, human rights and sustainable environment. It was with this declaration that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were born, and thus established eight specific, measurable, time-bound targets which would bind countries together in an effort to place a higher focus on inadequate incomes, widespread hunger, gender inequality, environmental deterioration and lack of education, healthcare and clean water. All UN nations engaged to work together to achieve the MDGs by 2015 adapting the goals to country specific development level.
Global Millennium Development Goals
1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2: Achieve universal primary education
3: Promote gender equality and empower women
4: Reduce child mortality
5: Improve maternal health
6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7: Ensure environmental sustainability
8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
In September 2005 the world leaders reconvened at the 2005 World Summit at the United Nations in New York to reiterate their unambiguous commitment of achieving the MDGs by 2015. The World Summit concluded with the Summit's Outcome Document, which clearly noted that each country must take primary responsibility for its own development, and for the establishment of appropriate national policies and development strategies.
The halfway mark was reached in July 2007, and a progress report by the United Nations showed that despite some clear progresses in implementing the MGDs, their overall success was nowhere near guaranteed. The progress report clearly showed that the world leaders were in a dire position which needed to be given precedence and that leader's needed to take stronger action to see that the MGDs are on target.
Please look for part two which will look at the feasibility of meeting the MGDs and if countries and the international community are indeed on track or way off.
Part 1 of 2
