Half-time For Millennium Development Goals

Half-time For The Millennium Development Goals

At the half-way stage for reaching the world's Millennium Development Goals, the world needs to sharpen up its act if it wants to halve world poverty by 2015 says Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Director Michael Smith.

All members of the United Nations pledged in 2000 to the eight goals, in areas such as poverty, hunger, education, status of women, health, environment and development.

"While some progress has been made towards the goals in most regions, no single goal is on track in all regions," said Mr Smith.

According to the United Nations mid-way report, the world as a whole is on target to halve the percentage of people living in extreme poverty, and significant progress has been made in other MDG target areas. But it's a patchy half-time report, and many regions lag behind in critical areas, said Mr Smith. We need to work harder to achieve all the goals in the second half.

The number of extreme poor in sub-Saharan Africa is levelling off, but the world needs to double its efforts to meet the MDG target of halving the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day in the region.

However, some places are showing that rapid progress can be made in key areas when good, strong government combines with adequate support from the international community.

"In Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, where Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand supports projects, the abolition of primary school fees has dramatically increased enrolments in just a few years," said Mr Smith. This has come about partly through debt relief.

The spread of HIV/AIDS is also stabilising in Africa, but closer to home in Oceania, infection rates have increased, especially in Papua New Guinea. Caritas has recently launched a special appeal to help our Pacific neighbours in need in this critical health area.

"If the MDGs are to be met, New Zealand and other countries must do more. We want to see our government do its part," said Mr Smith. "We'll be working to ensure the government keeps to its commitment to provide .35% of our gross national income (GNI) in overseas aid by 2010. We also want them to set a timetable for reaching the international target of 0.7% by 2015."

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has joined the "Micah Challenge", a global Christian campaign calling on governments to keep their MDG promises. The network also works to deepen Churches' commitment to live the Gospel of justice and mercy.
A CD-Rom on the MDGs and Micah Challenge, including prayer and reflection resources, is available from www.micahchallenge.org.nz.

The international Caritas network also has a booklet on the MDGs: Breaking with Business as Usual: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals, available for downloading at www.caritas.org .

ENDS

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