mit meeting in 2005 to review progress towards global anti-poverty goals
The United Nations General Assembly Friday approved a multi-stage work plan for 2005 that culminates in a high-level review of worldwide progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) just ahead of commemorations of the world bodys sixtieth anniversary next September.
Unanimously adopting a resolution on the format and organization of its work from late June through mid-September, the Assembly agreed that a High-Level Millennium review would be held from 14 to 16 September, and include the same format of debates and roundtable discussions of the 2000 Millennium Summit.
At that meeting four years ago, world leaders adopted the Millennium Declaration that provided a blueprint to build a better and safer world for the next century through collective security and a global partnership for development.
The MDGs themselves aim at a series of ambitious targets, ranging from halving extreme poverty, to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, to providing universal primary education, all by 2015.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report last month unveiling his ideas for the five-year review summit that the decisions to be taken at the meeting “may determine the whole future of the United Nations.”
He added: – Even more important, they will offer us our best – perhaps our only – chance to ensure a safer, more just and more prosperous world in the new century, not only for our own sakes but for those of our children and grandchildren.
The Assembly also decided to hold a High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development as a follow-up to the 2002 UN International Conference on Financing for Development, which was held in Monterrey, Mexico.
The session would convene from 27 and 28 June 2005 in New York immediately prior to the ministerial segment of the 2005 substantive session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in order for the Dialogues recommendations to be considered during the preparatory process for the Millennium review.
For its sixtieth session, the Assembly scheduled its traditional general debate – which attracts heads of State and government from across the planet – for 17 September to 23 September, and 26 September to 28 September 2005 on the understanding that those arrangements in no way created a precedent for future sessions.
Kilde: FNs nyhedstjeneste
