World Leaders Vow To Act Together On Millennium Development Goals

Davos, Switzerland (AHN) - World leaders at the ongoing World Economic Forum were in a cooperative mood on Friday. Many of them issued a joint statement pledging to work together to help the world get back on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The leaders who vowed to work together on the MDGs include Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations (UN); Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, President of Nigeria; Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum; William H. Gates III, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation; Bono, Musician and Founder of DATA (DEBT, AIDS, TRADE, AFRICA); and John T. Chambers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

The seven MDGs are eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; achiever universal primary education; promotion of gender equality and women empowerment; reduction of child mortality; improvement of maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; and environmental sustainability.

"We are here to say one thing loud and clear: Not on our watch! I speak to those who are most vulnerable to climate change and those who suffer the most grinding poverty. Let 2008 be the year of the bottom billion," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

"This (call to action) fits in with the idea of creative capitalism. We can make more progress and it is important to be part of this endeavor," said Microsoft's Bill Gates.

"For us in Africa, the achievement of the MDGs is our sacred duty. One of the major challenges in Africa is the infrastructure gap. That is one of the key enables of the achievement of the MDGs. I welcome this initiative from the global community," said Nigerian President, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

The world leaders as well as the 19 countries and 21 private sector companies who are part of the MDG Call to Action have set commitments for 2010, or five years before the deadline for the realization of the MDGs in 2015. Among these are: 75 million more people lifted out of extreme poverty in Africa; 25 million more children in school; 4 million more children's lives; 35 million more births need to be attended by skilled health personnel between now and 2010; and 70 million more people given improved access to water.