NEW YORK, NY - March 18, 2010
-- The second-ranking official at the United Nations today called on
richer countries to implement their commitments on providing finance
for development to help poorer nations reach the social and economic
targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
"The
combination of sound national development strategies, investment in
human capital and increased international support can lead to
remarkable progress," Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said
today at a special high-level meeting on the theme "Building on
Monterrey and Doha: towards achieving the internationally agreed
development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."
The
meeting ¬- hosted by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) with the
Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) - is meant
to mobilize action and resources ahead of the MDG Summit scheduled for
20-22 September in New York.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is
hosting the MDG Summit in hopes of accelerating efforts to reach the
eight development targets by the 2015 deadline.
Today, the
Deputy Secretary-General highlighted the importance of international
trade in financing international development and urged the completion
of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations in 2010.
She also called for the expedition of efforts "to develop an equitable and orderly international debt workout mechanism."
She
reiterated that actions to reform the international financial system
must be "well-financed and internationally coordinated, and should help
the world move towards a more equitable, stable and
development-oriented international financial system."
Ms.
Migiro also said despite efforts by many developing countries to
implement economic reforms, "inequality, social exclusion and lack of
participation persist."
She used the meeting as an opportunity
to highlight the importance of women's empowerment and gender equality,
a priority issue for both Ms. Migiro and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
and stressed the ripple effects caused by carrying out the MDGs, which
include provision of vaccinations and meals for children, and
agricultural support.
"These measures will go farthest if they
are accompanied by long-term national development strategies,
international support measures and systemic changes," the Deputy
Secretary-General added