MDG Momentum 1,000 Days of Action
On 5 April,
the UN and partners worldwide will observe the 1,000-day mark to the 2015
target date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are
the most successful global anti-poverty push in history. Governments,
international organizations and civil society groups around the world have
helped to cut in half the world’s extreme poverty rate. More girls are in
school. Fewer children are dying. The world continues to fight killer diseases,
such as malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. There are 1,000 days to accelerate
action on issues such as hunger, access to education, improved sanitation,
maternal health and gender equality. Get involved and help build more
#MDGmomentum!
Over these next 1,000 days, let us give 1,000 percent.
United
Nations, New York - UN Secretary-General video message for 1,000 Days to the
Deadline of the Millennium Development Goals - 01/04/2013
New York,
12 April 2013 - Secretary-General's Remarks to MDG 1,000 Days of Action Event
[As delivered]
Thank you
for your coming together for action to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals.
I’d like to
thank the Ambassadors of Australia and Rwanda, who are representing their
respective Heads of State and Government, President Kagame and Prime Minister Gillard,
who are working as co-chairs of the MDG Advocacy Group. And I really appreciate their respective
leadership in leading this MDG Advocacy group.
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
Over the
past week, people have gathered around the world to mark the 1,000-days to the
MDG deadline. The moment has been marked
in many creative ways – from festivals to social media campaigns to roundtable
discussions.
The MDG
Advocates have also raised their voice for action.
I took part
in several events myself.
As we have
just seen, just last Thursday, I met with a group of young people, who are very
committed to the MDGs, committed to working with the United Nations to realize
their ambitions and their aspirations by helping achieve the MDGs. That was done in Madrid on the occasion of
the CEB. All the heads of agencies and
funds and programmes of the United Nations System gathered in Madrid to be part
of this very important event.
On Friday,
last Friday, the start of the 1,000-day effort, I wanted to reach out to someone
who embodies so much of the hopes of the MDGs – someone who has shown that to
meet our goals, we must empower women and girls; we must speak out for justice;
we must stand up to forces of division and discord.
And so I
decided to call Malala Yousafzai and spoke with her via Skype. Her father was also beside her and she shared
with me her strong passion and resolve for education for girls and boys. I really wanted to meet her earlier but
because of my schedule I couldn’t. But I
was able to speak with her and she was very strong and courageous and I was
very much impressed. You know one day
you may be able to see her in the United Nations – I invited her.
On
Saturday, and I hope it was shown here, you would have been able to see me
kicking a ball. It was not just for
playing soccer. I kicked a ceremonial
kick-off took at the Real Madrid games against Levante. It was a unique experience. I have been speaking to many people; grown up
people, even 1,000 sometimes more than 1,000 people, but I have never performed
anything before 90,000 people. Anyway, I
was able to kick-off with the sincere wish that we all together kick out global
poverty and by scoring the goals. In fact you know Real Madrid scored many
goals in fact, many goals, that was my sincere wish, that we need to score the
goals, the Millenium Development Goals and kick out poverty by kicking off this
1,000 day action for MDGs.
Now I also
carried the 1,000-days message to my meetings with Pope Francis in Rome on
Tuesday and yesterday I discussed with President Obama on this very important
agenda of MDG and Sustainable Development Goals. I explained to him that I did this and that
event. But do you know what kind of a
gift I have given him? I received a nice book from him. I told him, Mr. President you are a very busy
man, you may just forget about all these MDGs. I really wanted to remind him
all the time, so I found a very creative way. I delivered two T-shirts with the
MDG logo and the names Malia and Sasha printed on them, and a soccer ball.
My family
even got into the act.
My
granddaughter was born on the 999-day milestone. She was due a bit later, but it seems she
couldn’t wait to join us in spreading the 1,000-day message!
Ladies and
gentlemen,
Cynics
expected the MDGs to be abandoned. Some
said, they were too ambitious. They were
too lofty.
Well, they
were wrong,
Thanks to
the hard work of governments, civil society and other partners around the world
– the MDGs have mobilized action and achieved results.
Global
poverty has been cut in half. We have
improved access to drinking water and conditions for people living in
slums. More girls are in school. Child and maternal mortality is declining
dramatically.
Yet we
continue to struggle against extreme poverty, inequality and insufficient
access to sanitation.
Climate
change remains a clear and present danger.
Now is the
time for MDG Momentum.
We now have
less than 1,000 days to close the gaps and accelerate action.
That means
scaling up success. Empowering women and
girls. Keeping fiscal promises. And mobilizing people from governments to the
grassroots.
The ideas
and inspiration of young people are especially critical. I also look forward to the ongoing work of
the MDG Advocacy Group and all our MDG Advocates.
Action now
will add momentum as we look beyond 2015 to the challenges of sustainable
development.
So I ask
you today to make a pledge with me:
Over these
next 1,000 days, let us give 1,000 percent.
Thank you
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