Millennium Development Goals

Introduction

In 2000 the UN Millennium Declaration was adopted at the largest ever meeting of heads of state and committed those countries - rich and poor - to doing all they could to eradicate poverty. Promote human dignity and equality and achieve peace, democracy and environmental sustainability. World leaders agreed to work together to deliver an agreed programme of Goals - 8 in all - and to do so by the year 2015.

This module explores those Goals, the context in which they operate, the costs of their realisation, the strategies needed to achieve them and the views expressed by commentators worldwide as to whether the Goals are real and achievable or just more words and promises without meaning.

• Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
• Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
• Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
• Goal 5: Improve maternal health
• Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
• Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development