1990 level by 2015. Regarding goal 6 “Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases”, while efforts of the international community have been relatively fruitful, the situation still requires a continuation and expansion of assistance. Also in the area of sanitation, which is largely connected to health, the proportion of the population with access to improved sanitation facilities has hardly increased.

In the area of education, even as the enrollment ratio is improving in the poorest countries, 72 million children are still out of school. Furthermore, regarding the original target to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005, while the disparity continues to narrow, the target has not been met as of 2010.

By region, East Asia has made relatively steady advances towards the achievement of the MDGs, whereas sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia as a whole are falling short. Disparities are also found within the same region and country.

Progress towards the achievement of the MDGs is affected not only by the policies of the developing countries themselves and the assistance of the international community, but also largely influenced by world economic trends. Food supply and employment in developing countries suffered significant setbacks due to the 2007–2008 rising food and energy prices and the global financial and economic crises which began in 2008. Various changes associated with climate change as well as emergency situations such as natural disasters are also factors which slow down the progress towards meeting the MDGs.

Keyword 1

# Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — Objectives and Background —

Momentum for the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was created by the United Nations (UN) Millennium Summit held in New York in September 2000. Representatives from 189 countries, including 147 heads of state and government, attended the Summit and adopted the UN Millennium Declaration as a goal of the international community in the 21st century. The UN Millennium Declaration sets out challenges such as "peace and security", "development and poverty eradication", "environment", "human rights and good governance", and "special needs of Africa", and presents a vision of the role the UN should play in the 21st century.

The MDGs are a single, common framework, which integrate the UN Millennium Declaration and the international development goals adopted at major international conferences held in the 1990s. The MDGs list eight goals which should be achieved by 2015, including "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger", "achieve universal primary education", "reduce child mortality", "improve maternal health", and "ensure environmental sustainability". More specific targets and indicators for measuring their achievement are established under each goal.

The international community has, on various occasions, confirmed the importance of the MDGs and renewed its efforts for achieving the goals.

In 2005, a UN summit was held to follow-up on the UN Millennium Declaration, where world leaders confirmed that greater efforts will be made by all countries to achieve the MDGs. In 2008, half way towards the target year of 2015, the High-level Event on the MDGs was held at the UN, and roundtable sessions took place on the three themes of particular importance: "poverty and hunger"; "education and health"; and "environmental sustainability". And in 2010, five years from the MDGs deadline, leaders and ministers from around the world gathered for various meetings and discussed achievements and challenges to date towards meeting the MDGs as well as the specific approach which should be taken moving forward, as described in Section 1 of Chapter 2.

Countries and actors around the world are, in the pursuit of the common goals of the international community — the MDGs, discussing their visions for the world and the responsibilities of each and every country, and furthermore, taking action.