Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the Government of Paraguay to join forces with the United Nations and forge ahead in framing the post-2015 agenda for a new generation of sustainable development goals, noting that the country had \u201can important role to play across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need sustainable and inclusive development for all,\u201d Mr. Ban declared today during a joint press briefing with Paraguay\u2019s President Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara in the country\u2019s capital of Asunci\u00f3n. \u201cAt this decisive moment, we must work together to end poverty and transform lives while protecting the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year marks the end of implementation of the landmark UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which world leaders agreed on 15 years ago in an effort to tackle poverty and climate change and to pave the way towards a more gender equal global society. The new targets, to be known as the sustainable development goals (SDGs), are defining the way forward on the world\u2019s most pressing issues until the next critical deadline in 2030.<\/p>\n
Overall, there has been significant progress in meeting the MDG targets. Global poverty has been halved well ahead of the 2015 deadline; in developing countries, 90 per cent of children now enjoy primary education; the number of people lacking access to improved drinking water has halved; and the fight against malaria and tuberculosis has shown results.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, numerous challenges persist. Globally, 73 million young people are looking for work and many more are trapped in exploitative jobs. In recent years, more than two and a half million more children in affluent countries fell into poverty, bringing the total above 76 million.<\/p>\n
In Asunci\u00f3n, Mr. Ban \u201cwarmly congratulated\u201d Mr. Cartes on Paraguay\u2019s \u201cimpressive achievements\u201d in reducing poverty and striving to meet the MDGs. More Paraguayans are currently enjoying better access to education and health care, he observed, and an increasing number of families are gaining access to clean water and sanitation.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the country was experiencing the damaging effects of global warming despite not being a large contributor to global emissions.<\/p>\n
\u201cParaguay is already feeling the impacts of climate change \u2013 ranging from increased flooding to prolonged droughts,\u201d Mr. Ban continued. He added that at the Paris climate conference in December the world would have \u201cthe chance to adopt a meaningful, universal agreement to tackle climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General, who travels tomorrow to Paraguay\u2019s famed ITAIPU hydroelectric dam, also celebrated the South American country for its ongoing contributions to the UN \u2013 from the Paraguayan peacekeepers serving in eight countries around the world to the country\u2019s \u201cleadership in advancing the special needs of Landlocked Developing Countries.\u201d<\/p>\n