Since the UN MDG Summit finished we are already another week closer to the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. With only 5 years (or 260 weeks) to go to achieve these targets the pressure was really on global leaders at the MDG Summit to come up with an ambitious strategy for ensuring we achieve the MDGs for all children around the world.
So what did they achieve - On the final day of the Summit leaders agreed a political declaration called Keeping the promise: united to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This document, like many similar global documents is a bit long, technical and (some would say) boring. However there are several great bits in it that could help to speed up global action and make sure we really can put it right for children and acheive the MDGs.
• The MDGs are achievable – we have made amazing progress over the past 10 years, we can do it if all countries work together and implement what we know works.
• Inequalities between and within countries are a big problem - huge challenges still exist, and if we are not careful, they will mean that millions of children continue to miss out on the progress that is being made. The most important of these challenges are the massive inequities in progress being made toward the MDGs. At UNICEF UK we have been working to highlight this issue to the UK Government for the past few months, so to see it in the final document is a great success. Countries have now agreed to address these inequities through effective social policies, removing barriers to services and promoting comprehensive social protection.
• Increased access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation – Unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation lead to diarrhoea claiming the lives of over 1.5 million children under 5 every year. This is wrong. We had been calling on the UK Government to address this at the Summit so I was really happy to see the recognition of the need to speed up action and close the sanitation gap, especially for the most vulnerable. A massive new Global Strategy for Women and Children’s Health was also launched at the Summit. This is a huge leap forward, for the first time we have a plan to address the lack of progress being made in fulfilling children's rights to be healthy and enjoy their childhood. Among other things the Strategy recognises the importance of clean water and adequate sanitation facilities for improving children's health. Now all we have to do is ensure this plan is funded and implemented over the next few years so it can help us put it right for children.
• Global partnership for development – the final agreement also highlights the importance of donor countries like the UK keeping their promises on aid. Without progress on trade and debt, as well ensuring countries keep their promise to give 0.7% of national income in aid it will be impossible to achieve any of the MDGs.
The UK Government stood up at the MDG Summit and made significant commitments on malaria and women’s health. These will make a massive difference to ensuring children everywhere are able to enjoy their rights. It was great to see Nick Clegg and the new coalition Government making this Summit a priority and continuing the tradition of the UK leading the world in international development. I am looking forward to seeing this continue at the Spending Review announcements in mid October, when I hope the Chancellor will lay out how the UK will fulfil its aid promises for the world’s children.