The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Davos

World leaders have issued a joint statement at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos vowing to make 2008 a turning point in the fight against poverty.

The world is facing a “development emergency”, they said. “We pledge to work together to help the world get back on track to meet the MDGs.”

Leaders spearheading the call to action include UN secretary general

Ban Ki-moon, Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates and founder and Executive Chairman of World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab

“We are here to say one thing loud and clear: Not on our watch!” said

Ban Ki-moon.

He said “I speak to those who are most vulnerable to climate change and those who suffer the most grinding poverty. Let 2008 be the year of the bottom billion.”

Queen Rania said “We all agree that it is time to move from promise to performance… Let us put our promises back on track for all the world’s children.”

“For us in Africa, the achievement of the MDGs is our sacred duty,” said Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. “One of the major challenges in Africa is the infrastructure gap that is one of the key enablers of the achievement of the MDGs. I welcome this initiative from the global community.”

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said “It is right that, here in Davos, we tell the truth that there is a development emergency and that we must summon everyone in a call to action to take measures to meet the MDGs by 2015.”

Bill Gates said “This [call to action] fits in with the idea of creative capitalism.” He said “We can make more progress and it is important to be part of this endeavour.”

The joint statement said at the Millennium Summit in 2000 the international community - every world leader, every international body, almost every country - vowed to spare no effort to achieve the seven key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The statement said halfway to 2015 some vital progresses were made.

The progress include 3 million more children survive every year, 2 million people now receive AIDs treatment, there are 41 million more children in school, 2 million lives are saved every year by immunization, polio, leprosy and neonatal tetanus are on the verge of elimination.

“This progress inspires us all to do more. We know we can make a difference. But we still face an enormous challenge - a development emergency,” the statement noted.

It said 72 million children are still not in school and many who are receive a very poor quality education.

The statement said half of the developing world lack basic sanitation. If current trends continue, the world is likely to miss the MDG sanitation target by almost 600 million people.

It said over half a million women still die each year from treatable and preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

Over 33 million people are living with HIV, and more than 1 million people die of malaria every year, including one child every 30 seconds while 980 million people still live on less than US$ 1 a day.

“So without an extraordinary effort we will fail to achieve the MDGs. 2008 is a critical year, the statement said, adding “If we don’t begin to get back on track we will fail.”

The statement said “today in Davos we - the undersigned - commit to work to make 2008 a turning point in the fight against poverty. We are pleased to join the 19 countries and 21 private sector companies that are now signed up to the MDG Call to Action. And we pledge to work together to help the world get back on track to meet the

MDGs.”

The joint statement said “we know we will only succeed if governments, the private sector, faith groups, civil society and NGOs work together.”

It said “and to catalyse, inspire and focus activity within this broad coalition - and to measure progress towards the 2015 pledges - today we agree that the world community should set some 2010 milestones towards our 2015 goals.”

More than 2,500 participants from 88 countries are in Davos, Switzerland, including 27 heads of state or government, 113 cabinet ministers, along with religious leaders, media leaders and heads of non-governmental organizations.

Around 60% of the participants are business leaders drawn principally from the Forum's members - 1,000 of the foremost companies from around the world and across all economic sectors.