World leaders today agreed to scale up action against extreme poverty, hunger and disease and called for a 2015 Summit to adopt the next set of targets after the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
In the outcome document adopted at a Special Event on the MDGs and hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly, countries lauded the remarkable progress made so far towards achieving the eight MDGs which have provided a common vision for meeting the needs of the world’s poorest.
Despite these huge gains, however, progress towards the different goals has been uneven, not only among regions and countries, but also between populations within countries, with accelerated action needed in many areas.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented the report “A Life of Dignity for All”, outlining his vision for action to achieve the MDGs and for a new and responsive sustainable development framework that meets the needs of both people and planet.
According to Ban Ki-moon, the post-2015 framework “must be bold in ambition yet simple in design,” and have a “particular emphasis on women, young people and marginalized groups. And it must protect the planet’s resources, emphasize sustainable consumption and production and support action to address climate change.”