THE MDGs

U2CHARIST LINCOLN

In the year 2000, 189 United Nations Member States and more than 23 other International Organisations agreed that there were certain targets that needed to be met worldwide.

These included a reduction in poverty, a reduction in mortality among  children under 5, action to prevent and treat AIDS and malaria, working towards a sustainable environment and fair trade for all.Altogether 8 key targets were identified and these were called the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s).The aim is to reach these targets by the year 2015.

We believe that these goals reflect Christian values and therefore as churches we aim to promote understanding and awareness of the MDG’s and issues surrounding them, and support the efforts of organisations involved in working towards the MDG’s through prayer and where possible, practical action. 

To find out about each goal see below, and click on the icons for updates from the United Nations.

GOAL 1

Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

TARGETS

1.  Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $1 a day

2.  Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people

3.  Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger

GOAL 2

Achieve Universal Primary Education

TARGET

1. Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling

GOAL 3 

Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

TARGET

1. Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education, no later than 2015

GOAL 4  

Reduce Child Mortality

TARGET

1. Reduce by two thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the mortality rate of children under five

GOAL 5 

Improve Maternal Health

TARGETS

1.  Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio

2.  Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health

GOAL 6 

Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases

TARGETS

1.  Halt and begin to reverse, by 2015, the spread of HIV/AIDS

2.  Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it

3.  Halt and begin to reverse, by 2015, the incidence of malaria and other major diseases

GOAL 7

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

TARGETS

1.  Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of

environmental resources

2.  Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss

3.  Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

4.  Achieve, by 2020, a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers

GOAL 8 

Develop a Global Partnership for Development

TARGETS

1.  Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system

2.  Address the special needs of least developed countries, landlocked countries and small island developing states

3.  Deal comprehensively with developing countries’ debt

4.  In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable, essential drugs in developing countries

5.  In cooperation with the private sector, make available benefits of new technologies, especially ICTs