Earlier this week, I was in Oslo, Norway and took part in the release of our latest and final scorecard on the Millennium Development Goals.
The world has made much progress over the past decade and a half. Extreme poverty and child mortality rates have been cut by more than half. More girls are in school. Fewer people are dying of killer diseases.
These critical advances did not happen on their own.
They required strong financial support, political leadership, and enormous efforts of people themselves – from the leadership of governments to the actions and hard work of the poorest villager.
As the international community works to establish a new development agenda for the coming 15 years, we know there is still a long way.
Too many still suffer from chronic undernutrition. Preventable diseases continue to be the top killers of children under five years of age.
At the same time, the broader picture of progress largely excludes women, and those at the lowest rungs of the economic ladder – as well as those discriminated because of age, disability or ethnicity.
Meanwhile, inequality is growing – climate change threatens the planet – and conflicts are derailing hard-won progress.
The MDGs have shown what is possible when we come together around common goals.
The Economic and Social Council has demonstrated the value of bringing the UN system together to support implementation.
It has served as the hub for Member States and others to review progress, linking the national, regional and global levels.
The Partnerships Forum has helped focus efforts and enhance effectiveness, which is critical for delivering on the post-2015 development agenda.
This event marks the end of the review of the MDGs in ECOSOC. But it also lays the foundation for the transition to the SDGs -- an ambitious and universal agenda.
Tomorrow, I will leave for Addis Ababa for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. I want to underscore the importance of achieving an ambitious agreement.
By doing so, we can not only lay a framework for financing – but indeed, a framework for success as we look ahead to adopting the sustainable development goals in New York in September -- and governments making good on their commitment to approve a universal, meaningful climate agreement in Paris in December.
I urge all parties to overcome differences and find a common pathway starting from Addis Ababa and leading to the end of poverty and a sustainable world for all.
Going forward, the High Level Political Forum – HLPF - under the auspices of ECOSOC and the General Assembly -- will play a central role in reviewing the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.
Your discussions this week have helped to outline how the forum can organize its work, keep track of progress and bolster implementation. Our success will depend on a firm political will to work together.
ECOSOC is now stronger and must fully use its power to spur integration, and help mobilize a range of actors as well as the UN system.
We also have to make the UN Development System fit to deliver the support that you need. ECOSOC has already launched that dialogue. I look forward to successful outcome of these deliberations.
Finally, I would like to commend Ambassador Martin Sajdik, and the bureau for your strong and enlightened leadership over the past 18 months.
I know Ambassador Martin Sajdik has moved on to new challenges, but I want to acknowledge that he has brought us a long way towards a smooth transition to the ambitious tasks ahead.
And I sincerely hope that, under the leadership of Amb. Oh Joon, the President of ECOSOC, you will make a great contribution to humanity by helping agree a set of sustainable development goals and also a universal and ambitious climate change agreement in December this year. I count on your leadership. Thank you very much.