MIGIRO URGES ACTION BY ALL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO REACH ANTI-POVERTY GOALS

MIGIRO URGES ACTION BY ALL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO REACH ANTI-POVERTY GOALS
New York, Apr 18 2007 5:00PM
Stressing the need to address the disparities in today's world by striving to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro urged action by all partners to achieve the time-bound anti-poverty targets that were set by world leaders meeting at the United Nations in 2000.

"Midway to the MDG target date of 2015, the world has registered mixed progress towards these targets," she said in an address at Boston University yesterday, hailing advances in many parts of the world, including a number of Asian countries.

While there has also been progress in a number of African States, there is growing poverty in the continent overall, she said. "The reality is that Africa's current growth, while commendable, is still insufficient when set against the tremendous distance the continent needs to cover."

African governments must continue with institutional reforms that promote good governance and accountability, said Ms. Migiro, a former foreign minister of Tanzania. "They should especially improve transparency in the use of domestic and external development resources."

She praised the efforts of development partners while calling for further action. "Donor nations and development partners should demonstrate leadership by bringing the quality and quantity of their development assistance in line with their stated commitments," she declared.

The Deputy Secretary-General called for a series of measures, including lowering existing trade barriers, agricultural subsidies, and restrictive rules on investment.

"Ultimately, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals requires leadership from all sides," she said, pledging the UN's full support in this process.

Also on Tuesday, Ms. Migiro accepted the Boston University Award, saying she was "humbled and inspired."

She praised the institution's long-standing ties to Africa. "This university houses one of the oldest African studies programmes in this nation. Its reputation as a centre of teaching and research on Africa is second to none," she said.
2007-04-18 00:00:00.000

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