UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday marked the 500-day to the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the organization's Headquarters with education advocate Malala Yousafzai and 500 young people.
In a message to mark the event, Ban stressed that regardless to all the fires raging around the world today -- political turmoil, bloodshed, public health emergencies and human rights abuses, there also "burns a flame of hope" encouraging progress in the global drive to improve the lives of the world's poorest through the MDGs.
Global poverty has been cut in half, more girls are in school, more families have better access to improved water sources, more mothers are surviving child birth and more children are living healthier lives. "We are making huge inroads in fighting malaria, tuberculosis and other killer diseases", he said.
Ban affirmed that many individuals he met owe their survival to this campaign, yet millions still struggle against extreme poverty and inequality. In addition, too many communities have no proper sanitation and many families are still being left behind. Therefore, the ideas and inspiration of young people will be especially critical in this effort and their role must grow even more, he said.
That is why the UN chief decided to mark this moment with Malala Yousafzai and 500 young people.
In order to help fuel progress, strategic investments in health, education, energy and sanitation is necessary "with a special focus on empowering women and girls", Ban explained.
Focusing on the poorest and most vulnerable countries, communities and social groups are another necessary aspect in addition to deepening cooperation among governments, civil society and the private sector, he said in his message.
UN official affirmed that the challenges are daunting, yet many more tools are at their disposal.
The MDGs are adopted by world leaders in 2000, the MDGs are an ambitious 15-year roadmap to fight poverty, hunger and disease, protect the environment and expand education, basic health and women's empowerment.