But the Summit does represent a crucial opportunity to press governments for new and concrete commitments to attack the poverty that so afflicts all parts of the world. The good intentions described in the Summit documents are impeccable. Everyone has access to primary health care, clean drinking water and sanitation. All children are immunized. Maternal mortality is halved.
All willing couples have access to family planning services.
Adult illiteracy is reduced to half the current figure, with girls' education on a par with that of boys. Severe malnutrition is eliminated, and moderate malnutrition halved. World population moves towards stabilization at 7.3 billion by 2015. Credit schemes are extended to the poor to enable them to seek self-employment and a sustainable livelihood. But in fact, most countries in North and South fall well short of these targets.