What? Bond Millennium Development Goals pre-Summit panel event in Westminster, London

When? September 15, 2010

Just a month ago I learned about the United Nations eight 'Millennium Development Goals'.

These targets aim to: end poverty and hunger, provide universal education, achieve gender equality, child health, maternal heath, to combat HIV / AIDS, to ensure environmental sustainability and to create global partnerships.

When these goals were set in 2000, it was predicted that extreme poverty would be halved by 2015. Representatives from 130 different countries are currently meeting in New York to assess the progress of these targets, as well as forming strategies for the future. With just five years remaining, what exactly is being done to ensure the targets are met?

Britain is one of the richest nations on the globe, and I wanted to know exactly what our government is doing to stamp out poverty. Last week, I attended the pre summit meeting in Westminster to find out.

'...The failure of governments around the world to address corruption is threatening the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals'

I attended the MDG meeting ready to demand answers from the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg. Could he justify his position in power with real, progressive actions and measures?  What's happening on the ground to ensure that the 'world's greatest promise' is being met? Most importantly, what did the young audience feel the meeting indicated for the future?

Speaking on behalf of the Department for International Development was Secretary Andrew Mitchell. In an assurance of British level of commitment to the targets, he insisted "We will make leading progress (at the summit), and specifically champion all MDGs, with a particular focus on Maternal Mortality and children". He reminded us- "Britain spends 0.7% of the gross national income on Aid each year".

So … this leaves me wondering, why doesn't all this aid arrive? And, more specifically, why isn't aid transported directly to those most in need? In addition-there are millions of people who remain obsolete- they simply aren't included in the stats published by the U.N; indeed, they are excluded from the MDGs altogether.

Andrew Mitchell believes the "Poor should hold their own government accountable". In light of this, a recent article in the Jamaica Observer calls for clearer anti-corruption laws to facilitate the MDGs: 'Transparency International (TI), the global anti-corruption organisation, has warned that the failure of governments around the world to address corruption is threatening the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)'.

When probed by a question from the audience on the issue of transparency, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he was "happy to talk about proposed changes to financial transparency".

It remains to be seen whether transparency will be part of the discussion at the Summit in New York.

The panel received pre-chosen questions from the audience, which included representatives from various NGOs and charities. After this it was revealed that 1.3 million  people from around the country had made pledges to support the MDGs.

In her short address, broadcaster/journalist Mariella Frostrup justified the importance of MDG3: Gender Equality. A Founder-Trustee of the Fem-Africa Solidarity Trust, she explained how raising the standard for women is intrinsic to the success of all the MDGs, "it is now widely accepted that you can't alleviate poverty without emancipating women". Detailing research undertaken by the U.N, Mariella told the audience of how "women's empowerment helps raise economic productivity, reduce infant mortality...and increases the chances of education for the next generation".

"It is now widely accepted that you can't alleviate poverty without emancipating women"

According to Juanita During, Head of Governance for Water Aid, thousands more girls are attending schools in Africa since sanitation facilities have been built. The lack of decent toilets previously had meant menstruating girls would have to forego their education. An estimated 72 million children remain uneducated worldwide, and most of these are girls.

 I personally felt that the pre-Summit meet was pretty one-dimensional and bereft of much-sought answers. Rather than an open Q&A session, what we got was a hastily-conducted hash of regurgitated vows. The young people I later interviewed felt left high and dry, and were offered no tangible solutions to these huge problems.

If we’re going to achieve real and lasting change through the implementation of the MDGs, it’s important that our governments take on board the public’s reaction and input to the process. Raising the profile of these targets is vital, and ensuring that people like you and I can hold our politicians accountable is an essential part of  making sure that the ‘world’s greatest promise’ is kept.
 

Words: Jade O' Hanlon

Photos: Jade O'Hanlon and Flickr user Chris Ensell

To find out what the young people thought of the event and Mr Clegg, click here for the Ctrl.Alt.Shift vox pops