Recognizing the achievements, addressing the challenges and getting back on track to achieve the MDGs by 2015
April 6, 2008 Report
A thematic debate of the General Assembly (GA) entitled “Recognizing the achievements, addressing the challenges and getting back on track to achieve the MDGs by 2015”, took place on April 1 – 2, 2008 at the UN head quarters, New York. The international community has reached the mid point to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 and the need was felt to redouble efforts to achieve the goals. The scenario is critical and calls for urgent action from all stakeholders. Many countries are off track in achieving the MDGs by 2015, and it is the least a government can do for its people. This debate was intended to once more galvanize upfront efforts to keep MDGs in the forefront.
The event began with the opening statements by the President of the GA and Secretary-General (SG) of the UN. There were three Panel discussions on Poverty and Hunger, Education and Health. SG in his statement brought out the fact that the primary school enrolment has increased in countries like Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Many countries in Asia have led the way with the fastest reduction in extreme poverty in human history. SG announced that there is going to be a high level event on September 25, 2008 on MDGs in New York. He also brought out the fact that more needs to be done to achieve gender equality and promote women’s rights, to empower women economically and to include them in decision making in all levels.
The President of the GA stated that achieving the MDGs was fundamentally a test of the world’s global partnership for development among Member States, the private sector, civil society and the global public. “We are facing a crisis – a development emergency,” he said.
The International Finance Facility for Immunization backed by the Foundations and some European Governments, Brazil and South Africa is working on mobilizing $4 billion to enable 500 million children to be vaccinated and at least 5 million lives to be saved by 2015. Mr. Ted Turner, Chairman of Turner Enterprises and Chairman, UN Foundation, who was the Keynote speaker, expressed his love for the Organization. In a press conference, he said, “Had it not been for the UN, humanity would have gone a long time ago.” The United Methodist Church and Lutheran World Relief had pledged to raise $200 million towards the elimination of malaria.
In the Panel Discussion on Poverty and Hunger, Mr. Collier of St. Anthony’s College said that the full integration of the “bottom billion” into the global manufacturing economy was also essential for eradicating poverty and hunger.
Dr. Jeffery Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, stated that the international community had been “stuck on the same path for the past six years”. Increased commitments are made, but nothing happens. He went on to add that, ‘we come back year after year with the same failure’. In his opinion, agriculture was key in every dimension for tackling hunger and poverty.
In the panel on Health Dr. Thoraya A. Obaid, Executive Director of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) stated that an estimated $6 billion in additional funding was needed each year to reduce maternal and newborn mortality. She further said that social investments are essential for economic growth. Investing in women is one of the best investments a government can make. Health of women and development needs to be made a priority, she added. One aspect of Universal Declaration of Human Rights is health. Every year, more than 500,000 women died needlessly from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Cuba had built a comprehensive national system capable of delivering health-care services to all.
Many speakers focused on the need for innovative financing mechanisms; the feminization of HIV/AIDS; finding funding for the development of new medicines; guaranteeing access to care; and to see that policies set in place further enhance achieving the above. They also touched on issues like universal education, empowering women and impact of climate change on development. A representative from Africa stated that Africa had made the least progress towards the Goals related to poverty, education and health care. Delegate from Denmark stated that gender equality was not only a basic human right, but also smart economics. Kenya stated that most African countries were far off track in achieving the MDGs. China mentioned that the developed countries needed to show sincerity in fulfilling its commitment of devoting 0.7 % of their gross domestic product for assistance to poor countries.
Since the first day was devoted to panel presentations and since there was a large number of delegates that took the floor, the debate had to be extended for two more days to accommodate all the delegates and the debate concluded on April 4, 2008. A very lively and rich discussion took place.
For more information of the all the deliberations please visit:
www.un.org/ga/president/62/ThematicDebates /mdgthematicdebate.shtml
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Philo Morris at the Vatican with Archbishop Silvano Tomasi,
Holy See Observer to United Nations, Geneva.