United Nations Radio

Today, we have many successes on which to build. That's the news from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as he opened a high-level gathering of world leaders assessing how to translate commitments into effective action to meet the Millennium Development Goals.~

The Secretary-General points to measles vaccinations that have prevented 7.5 million deaths; Inroads have been made against AIDS; school enrolment is surging in several African countries; and millions of poor households have risen out of poverty, not just in China and India, but in many countries, including some of the poorest.

But he warns while we are moving in the right direction, we are not moving quickly enough.

"Sub-Saharan Africa actually saw the number of poor increase between 1990 and 2005. Women and girls suffer persistent bias and neglect, evidenced by disturbing gender gaps in health, education, employment and empowerment. The current financial crisis threatens the well-being of billions of people, none more so than the poorest of the poor. This only compounds the damage being caused by much higher prices for food and fuel. We must rise to all of these challenges immediately."

Secretary-General Ban called for an injection of new energy into the global partnership for development. He says experience shows that where there is strong political resolve, we see progress. And he adds: where there is partnership, there are gains.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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