United Nations Radio

The world's non governmental organisations meeting in Melbourne, Australia, have resolved to again urge governments to pump billions of dollars into the global fight against poverty.

Melbourne conference logo

The three-day conference organized by the UN Department of Public Information met under the theme "Advance Global Health: Achieve the MDGs" the Millennium Development Goals to improve people's lives.

The meeting wrapped up on Wednesday with the adoption of a Call to Action and Declaration by the 350 non-governmental organizations from more than 70 countries.

UN Radio's Maha Fayek reports.

The declaration supported overwhelmingly by delegates, calls for a redirection of military spending towards health and education. Among other actions, the declaration calls for equity in healthcare and a greater say for the community in designing programs the empowerment of women; and the replenishment of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria and the global vaccine initiative. The Conference Chair, Professor Mary Norton urged all NGOs also to lobby their national governments to support the Melbourne Declaration: "Take it to your governments, and urge them to implement it in the best way possible," she told delegates. UN Under Secretary-General Kiyo Akasaka received the declaration and said it would inform the debate as world leaders meet to discuss progress towards the MDGs at a summit in New York, September 20-22. "The NGO group has enormous influence, and impact, on what the governments do," Mr Akasaka said. From Melbourne, reporting for UN Radio, this is Maha Fayek

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