Millennium Development Goals: 2011 report published

 Author: Eleanor Salter
7 July 2011 - Issue : 943

URL: http://www.neurope.eu/articles/Millennium-Development-Goals-2011-report-published/107548.php
 

The UN has launched its annual report on the state of progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

 

The Milenium Development Goals Report 2011 outlines the current global status of each of the eight global targets; poverty and hunger, education, improving maternal health, environmental sustainability, gender equality, reducing child mortality, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, and the global partnership for development.

 

The MDGs were established in September 2000 and the aim is to have them fully achieved by 2015. The most recent report shows that there has been huge success in many of the eight areas; by 2015, global poverty is estimated to drop to under 15%, much lower than the target of 23%; nearly 12,000 fewer children under five are dying daily due to better health care at birth and immunisation programmes, and the poorest countries have shown the greatest success.

 

However, there are certain targets that may not be achieved by 2015; with stubborn unemployment problems and persistent hunger and malnutrition, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find ways of accomplishing these aims. Promoting employment for women has proved unsuccessful thus far, and work on slums and poor sanitation has not progressed enough to reach the goals, with more than 820 million people living in slums in 2010.

 

Nevertheless, on a global scale, success has been achieved – although poverty discussions are difficult in the current climate, the MDGs have helped to keep the goals within reach. Europe’s actions must be by targeted efforts, and this has been made clear through the progress in aid provision – the amount provided has reached 0.32% of gross national income and despite that the aim is to reach 0.7%, experts believe this can happen via a gradual process.

 

“Resilience is the way forward,” said UNDP Deputy Director Nicola Harrington-Buhay.

 

The MDGs are the most cost effective, focused and productive ways of beating these human issues and with constant funding, international attention and governmental support, the targets by 2015 can be reached, added UNICEF Brussels Director  Philippe Cori.