20 Sep 2012

UN / MDG

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today (20 September) urged a stronger global partnership to advance progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015, as a new United Nations report finds declining aid has put some targets at risk. UNTV

Posted at: September 20, 2012 2:40 pm

Duration: 02:07

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / MDG
TRT: 2.07
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 20 SEPTEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

20 SEPTEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, dais
3. Wide shot, audience
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
"Last year, official development assistance declined for the first time in many years. I repeat my call to the international community: do not place the burden of fiscal austerity on the backs of the poor, either in your own countries or abroad. I commend those donors that have maintained or increased aid, despite cutting overall budgets."
5. Med shot, journalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
"We need to get past the impasse caused by the "everything or nothing" approach.
On debt relief, current initiatives are coming to an end despite debt distress in many countries and even though they have been shown to be effective." 
7. Med shot, panellists
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
"The Gap Task report notes some progress on health. Yet essential medicines are much too expensive and only half of public health facilities in developing countries are able to provide them. This could be alleviated by strengthening local production capacity."
9. Med shot, journalists
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General:
"The report paints a troubling picture. It is clear that we need a stronger global partnership to achieve the MDGs by the 2015 deadline. Everyone gains from improved standards of living in poorer countries. What we have achieved so far shows that we can succeed. Let us heed the lessons of this new report and keep pressing for progress."
11. Med shot, journalists
12. Med shot, end of conference

STORYLINE:

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today (20 September) urged a stronger global partnership to advance progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)  world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015, as a new United Nations report finds declining aid has put some targets at risk.

Ban told reporters as he launched the 2012 MDG Gap Task Force Report at UN Headquarters in New York that official development assistance declined last year, for the first time in many years.

The Secretary-General called on governments to "not place the burden of fiscal austerity on the backs of the poor" and commended donors "that have maintained or increased aid, despite cutting overall budgets."

He also pushed nations to revive the stalled Doha Round of trade negotiations as it, he said, remains the best route to a fairer, development-oriented trading system.

He said "we need to get past the impasse caused by the 'everything or nothing' approach."

The  Millennium Development Goals, agreed on by world leaders at a UN summit in 2000, set specific targets on poverty alleviation, education, gender equality, child and maternal health, environmental stability, HIV/AIDS reduction, and a 'Global Partnership for Development.'

On debt relief, Ban noted that current initiatives are coming to an end in many countries "even though they have been shown to be effective."

He also said the Gap Task report notes some progress on health, "yet essential medicines are much too expensive and only half of public health facilities in developing countries are able to provide them."

In March Mr. Ban reported major progress in achieving the MDGs, with several important targets – on poverty, water, slums and on parity between girls and boys in primary education – having been met.

But overall, he said, "the report paints a troubling picture" as it clear that "a stronger global partnership to achieve the MDGs by the 2015 deadline" is needed.

The Task Force Report, issued ahead of the annual high-level General Assembly meetings next week, notes that after reaching a peak in 2010, the volume of official development assistance fell almost three per cent in 2011.

It warns that with no apparent commitment by donor governments to reverse the trend, it is possible that fewer of the MDGs will be reached in fewer countries by the 2015 deadline.

The MDG Gap Task Force – created five years ago to track progress in strengthening the global partnership for development – recommends that donor governments honour their commitments to deliver increased ODA, despite budgetary constraints