Millennium Goals: the G8's Commitment
189 Heads of State and Government adopted the Millennium Declaration (Millennium Development Goals, MDG) in 2000, in which they pledged to meet eight goals by the end of 2015:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
2. Achieve universal primary education;
3. Promote gender equality and empowering women;
4. Reduce child mortality;
5. Improve maternal health;
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
7. Ensure environmental sustainability;
8. Develop a global partnership for development.
Much has been done, and it is estimated that the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis ad Malaria, which was set up at the 2001 Genoa Summit, has saved more than 2 million lives.
Be that as it may, despite the wealthiest countries’ commitment on aid, trade and debt, and the poorest countries’ pledges to reinforce their institutions, fight corruption and promote democracy and the processes whereby civil society can play a participatory role, there is still a long way to go to meeting the Millennium Goals by 2015.
