The current world financial and economic crisis provides an impetus to deliver on aid commitments and reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the eight internationally-agreed anti-poverty targets with a 2015 deadline.
Kashmir, India 2008. Photo by John Isaac
Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger Today, nearly 1 in 7 people do not get enough food to be healthy and lead an active life.
World Food Programme (WFP).
Pakistan 2005. Photo by Evan Schneider
Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education 75 million children are still not enrolled in primary school; 55% of them are girls.
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Senegal 2006. Photo by Evan Schneider, UN Photo
Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Women produce half of the worlds' food and work 2/3 of the world's working hours, yet women earn only 10% of the world's income and own less than 1% of the world's property.
United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
Egypt. © UNICEF/NYHQ2005-1585/Giacomo Pirozzi
Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality Immunization reaches over 80% of children worldwide and prevents about 2 million child deaths every year.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Uganda 2006. Photo by Heather McClintock
Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health Over 500,000 women die each year during pregnancy or childbirth.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Photo by UNAIDS
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases Globally, there were an estimated 33 million people living with HIV in 2007. The annual number of new HIV infections declined from 3.0 million in 2001 to 2.7 million in 2007.
The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
Canada 1982. Photo by G. Hunter, UN Photo
Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability As a result of climate change, rising temperatures, increased precipitation and extreme weather conditions will have a direct impact on where and how people live. Not only will rural and indigenous communities be affected, but urban centers may also be dangerously stretched in order to accommodate displaced populations.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Timor-Leste 2008, Photograph by Martine Perret, UN Photo
Goal 8: A Global Partnership for Development Development is not about charity — but about concrete actions to promote aid, trade and debt relief.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
