INITIATED by the United Nations (UN) 14 years ago, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) stand today as a success story by itself, as some of the eight targets have been met well ahead of their deadline next year.
The international-development goals were set up following the UN’s Millennium Declaration in September 2000. All 189 UN members at the time (currently, there are 193) and at least 23 international organizations committed themselves to help achieve the MDGs by 2015.
Former President and now Mayor Joseph Estrada of Manila signed for the country the declaration document at the UN Session Hall in New York. This writer, along with other journalists, personally witnessed the historic event.
The eight goals are: 1) to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; 2) to achieve universal primary education; 3) to promote gender equality and empower women; 4) to reduce child mortality; 5) to improve maternal health; 6) to combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) to ensure environmental sustainability; and 8) to develop a global partnership for development.
In the 2014 progress report shared with this writer, UN Undersecretary General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo said:
- In 1990 almost half of the population in developing regions lived on less than $1.25 a day. This rate dropped to 22 percent by 2010, reducing the number of people living in extreme poverty by 700 million.
- Between 2000 and 2012 an estimated 3.3 million deaths from malaria were averted due to the substantial expansion of malaria interventions. About 90 percent, or 3 million, of those averted deaths were of children younger than 5 years old who were living in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1995, however, the intensive efforts to fight tuberculosis have saved an estimated 22 million lives worldwide. If these trends continue, the world will attain the MDGs on malaria and tuberculosis.
- The target to halve the proportion of people without access to potable drinking water was reached in 2010, five years ahead of schedule. In 2012 89 percent of the world’s population had access to an improved source, up from 76 percent in 1990. Over 2.3 billion people gained access to an improved source of drinking water between 1990 and 2012.
- Disparities in primary-school enrollment between boys and girls are being eliminated in all developing regions. In fact, substantial gains have been made in reaching gender parity in school enrollment at all educational levels in all developing regions. By 2012 all developing regions have achieved, or were close to achieving, gender parity in primary education.
- The political participation of women continues to increase. In January 2014 46 countries, including the Philippines, boasted having more than 30-percent female members of parliament in at least one chamber. More women are now holding some of the so-called hard ministerial portfolios, such as defense, foreign affairs and the environment.
- Development assistance rebounded, the trading system stayed favorable for developing countries and their debt burden remained low. Official development assistance stood at $134.8 billion in 2013— the highest level ever recorded—after two years of declining volumes. Close to 80 percent of imports from developing countries entered developed countries, duty-free and tariffs remained at an all-time low. The debt burden of developing countries remained stable at about 3 percent of export revenue.
- The proportion of undernourished people in developing regions have decreased from 24 percent in 1990 to 1992 to 14 percent in 2011 to 2013. However, meeting the target of halving the percentage of people suffering from hunger by 2015 will require immediate additional effort, especially in countries that have made little headway.
- Worldwide, the mortality rate for children younger than 5 years old dropped almost 50 percent, from 90 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 48 in 2012. Preventable diseases are the main causes of younger-than-five deaths, and appropriate actions need to be taken to address them.
- Globally, the maternal mortality ratio dropped by 45 percent between 1990 and 2013, from 380 to 210 deaths per 100,000 live births. Worldwide, almost 300,000 women died of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth in 2013. Maternal death is mostly preventable, and much more needs to be done to provide care to pregnant women.
- Access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected people has been increasing dramatically, with 9.5 million people in developing regions receiving treatment in 2012. ART has saved 6.6 million lives since 1995. Expanding its coverage can save many more. In addition, knowledge about HIV among young people needs to be improved to stop the spread of the virus.
- Between 1990 and 2012 almost 2 billion people gained access to an improved sanitation facility. However, in 2012, 2.5 billion people did not use such a facility and 1 billion people still resorted to open defecation, posing a huge risk to communities that are often poor and vulnerable. Much greater effort and investment are needed to redress inadequate sanitation in the coming years.
- The school-enrollment rate in primary education in developing regions increased from 83 percent to 90 percent between 2000 and 2012. Most of the gains were achieved by 2007, after which progress stagnated. In 2012 58 mi l lion chi ldren were out of school. High dropout rates remain a major impediment to universal primary education. An estimated 50 percent of out-of-school children of primary-school age live in conflict-affected areas.
Wu said the MDGs brought together governments, the international community, civil society and the private sector to achieve concrete goals for development and poverty eradication. “Much has been accomplished through the concerted and focused efforts of all, saving and improving the lives of many people, but the agenda remains unfinished,” he said.
The post-2015 development agenda is slated to carry on the work of the MDGs and integrate the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. According to Wu, continued progress toward the MDGs in the remaining year is essential to provide a solid foundation for the post-2015 development agenda.
E-mail: cecilio.arillo@gmail.com.