Pretoria - World leaders have voiced confidence that with renewed global commitment, the targets to slash hunger, poverty, disease and a host of other social ills can still be achieved by 2015.
While expressing deep concern that progress has fallen far short of what is needed, the UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on Wednesday ended with a declaration document titled "Keeping the Promise: United to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals" which plots the course for countries to reach the goals before the deadline.
"We are convinced that the MDGs can be achieved, including in the poorest countries, with renewed commitment, effective implementation and intensified collective action by all member states and other relevant stakeholders," the 140 Heads of State and Government, pledged in the document.
The 31-page document touched on virtually every aspect of global issues beyond the headings of each of the eight MDGs which range from human rights, to corruption to climate change. It focused on actions, policies and strategies to support developing countries that are lagging behind.
"We are convinced that the UN, on the basis of its universal membership, legitimacy and unique mandate, plays a vital role in the promotion of international cooperation for development and in supporting the acceleration of the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals," the outcome document said.
"We reaffirm the need for a strong United Nations to meet the challenges of the changing global environment," it added, calling for more attention to be paid to Africa, particularly the countries that are most off track in meeting the goals by 2015.
In achieving the goals, it stressed the need to promote human rights, resist protectionist trade tendencies, confront the challenges of peace building and early recovery in post-conflict countries.
It dealt with each MDG separately, with dozens of recommendations on each.
Speaking at the summit, US President Barack Obama said there was progress but it had not come nearly fast enough. "Not for the hundreds of thousands of women who lose their lives every year simply giving birth; not for the millions of children who die from the agony of malnutrition.
"We must do better," Obama told the summit, adding that his country would now concentrate on countries that invest in their future and boost democracy, good governance and free trade.
The three-day summit saw UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon launching a $40 billion drive to save the lives of millions of women and children. Britain, China and Japan also promised more help.
The summit also declared that fulfilment of all official development assistance (ODA) commitments is crucial for achieving the MDGs. The ODA commitments include a promise by affluent countries to give 0.7 percent of their gross national product (GNP) to developing countries by 2015.
