UN calls for accelerated action on MDGs

The United Nations on Thursday urged people around the world to join in boosting momentum for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the most successful global anti-poverty push in history.Starting on April 5, the actual milestone date, and running through April 12, the UN will work with governments, civil society and international partners to mark "MDG Momentum: 1,000 Days of Action" in a variety of ways, the UN Information Centre Pretoria (UNIC Pretoria) said in a statement issued here.The UN and its partners around the world will observe the 1,000 days to the end of 2015, the target date for achieving the MDGs, during next week to inspire further action, according to the statement.As described by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the MDGs are the most successful global anti-poverty push in history, which has helped to set global and national priorities, mobilize action, and achieve remarkable results.The eight time-bound MDGs address poverty and hunger, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, combatting AIDS, malaria and other diseases, environmental sustainability and a global partnership for development.Since the MDGs were adopted by all UN member states in 2000, governments, international organizations and civil society groups around the world have helped to make tremendous progress to improve people's lives.The world's extreme poverty rate has been cut in half since 1990. A record number of children are in primary school -- with an equal number of girls and boys for the first time. Maternal and child mortality have dropped. The world continues to fight killer diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. Since 1990, 2 billion more people have gained access to safe drinking water.To build on this success and accelerate action, the UN called on the international community to increase targeted investments in health, education, energy and sanitation; empower women and girls; focus on the most vulnerable people; keep up aid commitments; and re-energize efforts from governments to grassroots groups to make a difference."The MDGs have proven that focused global development objectives can make a profound difference," Ban said in the statement. "Success in the next 1,000 days will not only improve the lives of millions, it will add momentum as we plan for beyond 2015 and the challenges of sustainable development."