“This Summit has laid a solid foundation for the progress we need in our quest to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the internationally agreed deadline of 2015,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the closing session of the MDG Summit held in New York from 20-22 September 2010.
Mr Ban emphasized that the concrete support announced by several Member States and the key issues that have been on the table to reach the anti-poverty targets, are now part of the outcome document of the Summit: jobs, especially green jobs; inclusive and sustainable development, the need for a successful Doha trade round outcome, smallholder farming, food and nutrition security, inclusive financial services, women’s health and empowerment and a rejuvenated global partnership, among others.
The three-day meeting, which aimed to identify how to accelerate progress to meet the MDGs, also raised a commitment to boost the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the endorsement of a Global Strategy for Women and Children’s Health, the latter with pledges for more than $40 billion over the next five years.
Besides, Mr Ban stressed that a rescue package similar to that introduced after the global financial crisis is urgently needed to halt the worldwide loss of biodiversity, which lead to the failure of crops, a drop in profits, a deepening of poverty and economic decline.
“We must achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We want to achieve them. And we can achieve them,” said the General Assembly President Joseph Deiss. “In addition to the action taken by Governments, we have also seen unprecedented momentum on the part of civil society and the private sector. It must be stressed that this is remarkable and it is vital to continue working together,” he added.
The Secretary-General gave special thanks to H.E. Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, President of the 64th Session of the General Assembly, and to H.E. Mr. Joseph Deiss, President of the 65th Session, and the co-chairs of the roundtables. He also highlighted the work of the two co-facilitators, Ambassador Staur of Denmark and Ambassador Badji of Senegal, the MDG Advocacy Group and referred to the new head of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet.
Today during the opening of the General Debate, Mr. Ban welcomed the results of this week’s MDG Summit and highlighted the collective determination of all Member States: “One hundred and thirty-nine heads of state and government agreed on a responsible and mutually accountable partnership … a partnership that will better the lives of billions of people within our generation. Our challenge is to deliver on this promise … to turn hopes into realities”.
