MDG Advocates Statement: Keep the MDG Momentum Going

Today marks 500 days until the 2015 target date to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These eight goals were adopted in 2000 by world leaders gathered at the United Nations, in order to address challenges facing the world’s poorest people. Events around the globe will mark the milestone, including a conversation between UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and education activist Malala Yousafzai in New York. In recognition of the day, the following members of the UN Secretary-General’s MDG Advocacy Group released the statement below:

Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway and MDG Advocacy Group Co-chair
Mukesh D. Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries
Stine Bosse, Board Member of Allianz Group and Vice Chairman of ChildFund Alliance
Ray Chambers, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Financing the Health MDGs and for Malaria
Dho Young-shim, Chairperson of the UNWTO ST-EP Foundation
Philippe Douste-Blazy, UN Special Advisor on Innovative Financing for Development
Julio Frenk, Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, former Minister of Health of Mexico
Bob Geldof, Singer, songwriter, political activist
Graça Machel, President, Foundation for Community Development & Founder, Graça Machel Trust 
Jeffrey Sachs, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the MDGs
Marina Silva, Environmentalist and politician
Ted Turner, Chairman of the UN Foundation
Hiromasa Yonekura, Chairman & CEO of Sumitomo Chemical Co. & of the Japan Business Federation
Muhammad Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank

“The MDGs are the most successful global anti-poverty push in history, opening the doors of opportunity to millions of people around the world. Over the next 500 days, our mission is clear: Keep the MDG momentum going so we pave the path for an end to extreme poverty.  While we’ve come far, we have farther to go. We have an opportunity in the next 500 days to accelerate action on issues such as poverty, health, access to education, hunger, water and sanitation, and gender equality. We also have the chance to lay a strong foundation for the development agenda that will follow the MDGs.

“As MDG Advocates, our aim is to foster support for and commitment to these important goals among governments, civil society, and the private sector. We look forward to publishing our MDG Advocates report next month at the UN General Assembly, which will include the viewpoints of leaders from around the globe to help focus our efforts as we move toward the MDG target date. We will need the partnership of leaders from all sectors of society if we hope to continue to make the kinds of gains that we have seen in recent years.

“While our commitment to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges will continue far beyond the next 500 days, we must use this moment to encourage the world to accelerate progress and work with unfailing determination to reach these important targets. Please join us by taking part in the worldwide movement for #MDGMomentum and learn more by visiting www.mdg500.org.”