The Millennium Development Goals
In 2000, 189 nations came together to discuss the growing issues worldwide. They hoped to achieve eight goals by 2015.
Goal Number One: Eradicate Extreme Poverty
In many places in the world, poverty is a major issue that effects the lives of people and children throughout the world. The United Nations hopes to reduce by half the amount of people living on less than a dollar a day. In addition, they also hope to lessen the amount of people suffering from hunger and homelessness. As the UN says, "we are the generation that can end poverty."
Goal Number Two: Achieve Universal Primary Education
Many people take their education for granted, but for people in developing countries, the thought of going to school is like a dream come true. The United Nations hopes to achieve universal primary education by ensuring that all boys and girls complete primary schooling.
Goal Number Three: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
The UN's next goal has to do with eliminating gender disparities towards women. They hope to achieve this goal by ensuring that all women and girls have equal opportunities to recieve primary and secondary education by 2015.
Goal Number Four: Reduce Child Mortality
In many places throughout the world, children die without getting the opportunity to live. The UN rightfully declared that the next goal should focus on reducing child mortality. They hope to reduce by two thirds the rate of child mortality throughout the world.
Goal Number Five: Improve Maternal Health
Fourteen-thousand girls die every day from complications with childbirth. Goal number five hopes to improve health care for women before, during, and after childbirth. They want to reduce by two-thirds the amount of women dying in childbirth.
Goal Number Six: Combat HIV/AIDS and Other Diseases
Goal Number Six focuses on halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria and other major diseases. In doing so, they will also be reducing child mortality and helping people beat poverty, so the success of this goal is essential in helping other goals succeed.
Goal Number Seven: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Day by day and month by month, less fresh water is available for drinking. This goal focuses on sustaining clean drinking water and making sure that everyone has resources available for consumption.
Goal Number Eight: Create a Global Partnership
This last goal recognizes that without a partnership between rich and poor countries worldwide, it will not be possible to eradicate poverty and make the world a better place for everyone, rich or poor.
