World leaders renew commitment to MDGs

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World leaders renew commitment to MDGs

(Xinhua) 08:12, September 26, 2013

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- World leaders agreed here Wednesday to scale up efforts to address extreme poverty, hunger and diseases, and called for a 2015 summit to set the next stage of goals beyond the 2015 deadline for completing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

In an outcome document adopted at a special event on the MDGs hosted by John William Ashe, president of the UN General Assembly, countries recognized progress made so far toward achieving the eight MDG, which have provided a "common vision" for meeting the needs of the world's poorest.

UN member states also expressed concern at the unevenness and gaps in achieving MDGs amid immense challenges, and agreed to take determined and coordinated action required to speed up the progress.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Ashe said "We must do everything possible to accelerate action and get the job done by 2015."

"Urgently implementing the global partnership for development is not only a moral obligation but will also put us at the best possible starting point for agreeing what comes next," he said.

In the outcome document, countries also agreed to hold a high- level summit in September 2015 to adopt a new set of goals that will balance the three elements of sustainable development -- providing economic transformation and opportunity to lift people out of poverty, advancing social justice and protecting the environment.

The new goals, which will build on the foundation laid by the MDGs and also respond to new challenges, will be applicable to all countries while taking into account their national conditions.

At the special event, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented to countries a report "A Life of Dignity for All," outlining his vision for bold action to achieve the MDGs and for a new and responsive sustainable development framework that meets the needs of both people and the planet.

The post-2015 framework "must be bold in ambition yet simple in design, supported by a new partnership for development," said the UN chief.

"It needs to be rights-based, with particular emphasis on women, young people and marginalized groups. And it must protect the planet's resources, emphasize sustainable consumption and production, and support action to address climate change," he added.

The meeting comes as the UN, governments, civil society, the private sector and philanthropists push for more MDG targets in the final stretch to 2015.

Agreed upon by world leaders at a UN summit in 2000, the MDGs set specific targets on poverty alleviation, education, gender equality, child and maternal health, environmental stability, HIV/ AIDS and malaria reduction, and a global partnership for development.

According to the latest UN report on MDGs issued last week, the lives of millions of people have been improved, and targets have already been met on reducing poverty, increasing access to safe water, improving the lives of slum dwellers, and achieving gender parity in primary education.

However, the report noted that despite huge gains, progress toward the eight MDGs has been uneven, not only among regions and countries, but also between population groups within countries, with accelerated action needed in many areas.