The Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world's main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration. The Declaration was adopted by 189 nations and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000 and from further agreement by member states at the 2005 World Summit
The eight MDGs are:
Goal 1 - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2 - Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3 - Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4 - Reduce child mortality
Goal 5 - Improve maternal health
Goal 6 - Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7 - Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8 - Develop a global partnership for development
These goals have been implemented according to a Road Map, which outlines potential strategies for action. So far, the collective record is mixed. There have been advances in some areas but there have also been significant set-backs.
The United Nations issues a country report (for most countries it is on an annual basis) assessing a country’s progress in respect of each of the 8 MDGs.
The latest UN country report on South Africa was in 2010. Engagement with stakeholders including civil organizations took place. The aim was to ensure that the process was widely consultative and transparent.
South Africa is on track to achieve by 2015, the following MDG’s
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- Achieve universal primary education
- Ensure environmental sustainability
- Promote gender equality and empower women
- Develop a global partnership for development
SA is falling behind in the following MDGs, or as the UN quaintly describes it “Possible to achieve if some changes are made”:
- Reduce child mortality
- Improve maternal health
- Combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases
(www.mdgmonitor.org)