United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) concluded on 22 September, 2010 in New York with the

adoption of a global action plan to achieve the eight anti-poverty goals by 2015 target date. It followed announcement of major new commitments for womens and childrens health and other initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease. The outcome document of the three-day Summit Keeping the Promise : United to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals reaffirms world leaders commitment to the MDGs and sets out a concrete action agenda for achieving the Goals by 2015. Based on examples of success and lessons learned over the last ten years, the document spells out specific steps to be taken by all stakeholders to accelerate progress on each of the eight Goals. It also affirms that, despite setbacks due to the economic and financial crises, remarkable progress has been made

on fighting poverty, increasing school enrolment and improving health in many countries, and the Goals remain achievable. Background of MDGs When 189 Heads of State and government from the North and South, as representatives of their citizens, signed onto the Millennium Declaration at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit, there was a palpable sense of urgency. Urgency to "free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected. Since then many events have been unfolded while trying to meet those goals. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. They include eradicating extreme

poverty, reducing child mortality rates, fighting disease epidemics such as AIDS, and developing a global partnership for development. These are the goals and targets : 1. End poverty and hunger Over the years, we've been inundated with the statistics and the pictures of poverty around the world, so much so that many people in both the North and South have come to accept it as an unfortunate but unalterable state of affairs. The truth, however, is that things have changed in recent years. The world today is more prosperous than it ever has been. The technological advances we have seen in recent years have created encouraging new opportunities to improve economies and reduce hunger. The Targets Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day. Achieve full and productive employment and decent work

for all, including women and young people. Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. 2. Universal educationEvery human being should have the opportunity to make a better life for themselves. Unfortunately, too many children in the world today grow up without this chance, because they are denied their basic right to even attend primary school. A sustainable end to world poverty as we know it, as well as the path to peace and security, requires that citizens in every country are empowered to make positive choices and provide for themselves and their families. The Targets Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. 3. Gender equalityPoverty

has a woman's face. Global prosperity and peace will only be achieved once the entire world's people are empowered to order their own lives and provide for themselves and their families. Societies where women are more equal stand a much greater chance of achieving the Millennium Goals by 2015. Every single Goal is directly related to women's rights, and societies where women are not afforded equal rights as men can never achieve development in a sustainable manner. The Target Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015. 4. Child healthOne of the darkest characteristics of poverty is that is seems to prey on the vulnerable and defenceless. In lowincome countries, one out of every 10 children dies before the age of five. In wealthier nations, this number is only

one out of 143. The Targets Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate. 5. Maternal healthMany people consider the day their child was born the happiest day in their life. In poorer countries, the day a child born is all too often the day its mother dies. The lifetime risk of dying in pregnancy and childbirth in Africa is 1 in 22, while it is 1 in 120 in Asia and 1 in 7,300 in developed countries. The Targets Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio [MMR].

Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health [UARH]. 6. Combat HIV/AIDSMalaria, ogether with HIV/AIDS and TB, is

ne of the major public health chal enges undermining development in he poorest countries in the world. Malaria kills an African child every 0 seconds. Many children who urvive an episode of severe malaria may suffer from learning impair ments or brain damage. Pregnant women and their unborn children re also particularly vulnerable to malaria, which is a major cause of renatal mortality, low birth weight nd maternal anaemia. he Targets Have halted by 2015 and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/ AIDS. Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/ AIDS for all those who need it. Have halted by 2015 and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases. 7. Environmental sustainabi tyReducing poverty and achiev

ng sustained development must be one in conjunction with a healthy lanet. The Millennium Goals recog ize that environmental sustainability part of global economic and social well-being. Unfortunately exploita on of natural resources such as orests, land, water, and fisheries ften by the powerful few have aused alarming changes in our atural world in recent decades, often arming the most vulnerable people n the world who depend on natural esources for their livelihood. he Targets Integrate the principles of sus tainable development into coun try policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources. Reduce biodiversity loss, achiev ing, by 2010, a significant reduc tion in the rate of loss. Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable

access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. 8. Global partnershipThe Millennium Goals represent a global partnership for development. The deal makes clear that it is the primary responsibility of poor countries to work towards achieving the first seven Goals. They must do their part to ensure greater accountability to citizens and efficient use of resources. But for poor countries to achieve the first seven Goals, it is absolutely critical that rich countries deliver on their end of the bargain with more and more effective aid, more sustain able debt relief and fairer trade rules, well in advance of 2015. The Targets Develop further an open, rule based, predictable, non-discri

minatory trading and financial system. Include a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction both nationally and internationally. Address the special needs of the least developed countries Includes : tariff and quota free access for the least developed countries exports; enhanced programme of debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) and cancellation of official bilateral debt; and more generous ODA for countries committed to poverty reduction. Address the special needs of landlocked developing countries and small island developing States (through the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States and the out come of the twenty-second special session of the General

Assembly). Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term. In cooperation with pharma ceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries. In cooperation with the private sector, make available the bene fits of new technologies, especially information and com munications. Outcome of the Summit General Assembly adopts the following outcome document of the High-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals We, Heads of State and Government, gathered at United Nations Head quarters in New York from 20 to 22 September 2010, welcome the pro

gress made since we last met here in 2005 while expressing deep concern that it falls far short of what is needed. Recalling the development goals and commitments emanating from the Millennium Declaration and the 2005 World Summit Outcome we reaffirm our resolve to work together for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples. They (participants) were convin ced that the Millennium Deve lopment Goals can be achieved, including in the poorest countries, with renewed commitment, effective implementation and intensified collective action by all Member States and other relevant stakeholders at both the domestic and international levels, using national development strategies and appropriate policies and approaches that have proved to be effective, with strengthened institutions at all levels, increased mobilization of resources for deve

lopment, increased effectiveness of development cooperation and an enhanced global partnership for development. In the summit emphasis was put on a broad based policy formulation and its executionthey recognize that all the Millennium Development Goals are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Therefore the need is to pursue these Goals through a holistic and comprehensive approach. Outcome document call on civil society, including non-govern mental organizations, voluntary associations and foundations, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders at the local, national, regional and global levels, to enhance their role in national development efforts as well as their contribution to