UN General Assembly
2011

More than 10 years ago, we decided to set eight concrete goals to free humankind from extreme poverty, from hunger and disease, and from illiteracy. We called them the Millennium Development Goals. These Goals have been powerful. They have helped the international community to monitor and mobilize resources for development cooperation. And important progress has been made. We have seen poverty decline in many countries. By 2015, the global poverty rate is expected to fall below 15 per cent. We have seen some of the poorest countries make the greatest strides in education. Child mortality has been reduced. New HIV infections are declining steadily. Access to clean drinking water has increased. But we still have a long way to go in other areas in order to raise standards of living and offer equal opportunities to people around the globe. Today I would like to focus on one key area where progress is still very slow. But since it affects half of the world’s population and half its human resources, it is of crucial importance. I am referring to