UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 25 September 2013 – World leaders agreed today to scale up action against extreme poverty, hunger and disease and called for a 2015 Summit to adopt the next set of Goals to focus continued efforts after the target date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In the outcome document adopted at a Special Event on the MDGs, hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly, countries lauded the remarkable progress made so far towards achieving the eight Goals, which have provided a “common vision” for meeting the needs of the world’s poorest.
Member States also expressed concern at the unevenness and gaps in MDG achievement in the face of immense challenges, and agreed to take the purposeful and coordinated action required to accelerate progress.
Speaking at the opening of the event, President of the General Assembly John Ashe said that “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.”
In the document, countries agreed to hold a high-levelSummitin 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 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 national circumstances.
The deliberations of Governments took into account the views expressed by people across the globe through a series of worldwide consultations that reached more than a million citizens, in an effort unprecedented for the UN.
At today’s event, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented to countries his 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 planet.
The Secretary-General said that the post-2015 framework “must be bold in ambition yet simple in design, supported by a new partnership for development”.
“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 continued.
The Special Event comes as the UN, Governments, civil society, the private sector and philanthropists push to achieve more MDG targets in the final stretch to 2015.
A high-level event, MDG Success: Accelerating Action and Partnering for Impact, hosted by the Secretary-General on 23 September, showcased the power of new types of partnerships to change the development landscape and mobilize finance, expertise and knowledge to further the MDGs.
“Substantial additional commitments from Governments, the World Bank, private business and philanthropy brought the total new investment in boosting MDG achievement to $2.5 billion,” the Secretary-General told Member States today.
The MDGs – which range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education – have been the most effective anti-poverty push in history. 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.
Despite huge gains, progress towards 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.
