The International Save the Children Alliance is disappointed that world leaders did not use the UN Summit to advance their collective commitment to halve extreme poverty and hunger, cut child mortality by two-thirds and ensure the basic education of every child by 2015.

Save the Children has expressed its support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), welcomed a five year UN Review of the MDGs, and been supportive of the United Nations reform efforts suggested by the UN Secretary-General. The issues at stake are very high – above all for the children of the world, who make up 50% of those affected by poverty.

We are particularly concerned that the Summit will not result in greater delivery of resources and policies to achieve the MDGs. Furthermore, the governments involved in the negotiations have failed even to acknowledge that the first MDG target for 2005 of the goal of equity for girls and boys in primary education has not been reached.We would, however, like to applaud the efforts of a large number of governments to reach for a progressive outcome to this Summit and we welcome the recognition in the Outcome Document of children’s rights, the critical role of both formal and informal education, the need for protection of children affected by armed conflict, violence, trafficking and abuse and on steps forward on development assistance.

Through our own programmes and in collaboration with pro-active governments, the UN and its agencies and programmes and civil society, Save the Children is committed to continuing to work towards the MDGs by ensuring that children living in situations of crisis and conflict benefit from quality education, and that user fees for education and essential healthcare are abolished. We are further committed to highlighting the dire situation of children affected by armed conflict, and following through on health initiatives launched in connection with the Summit, including the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health.

Save the Children welcomed the original Millennium Declaration and despite the lack of necessary progress at the UN Summit, we will continue to pressure the international community to fulfill the promises it made in the Millennium Development Goals. Regardless of any action or inaction at the highest level we will continue to work through our 27 national organisations and programs in more than 110 countries to improve the lives of children around the world.

Related information

What are the Millennium Development Goals? Visit Chasing the Dream to find out more.