Mennonite
Central
Committee

Memorial Service and Interfaith Press Conference

September 14, 2005

As world leaders gathered for the 60th Annual United Nations Summit, a Memorial Service and Interfaith Press Conference sponsored by Sojourners took place on September 14th in the vicinity of the UN Headquarters. The event was opened by Jim Wallis from Sojourners and Salil Shetty, Director of the Millennium Campaign. Religious and NGO leaders, including David Blough, participated in the lecture of a declaration stressing the role of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in reducing extreme poverty.

The MDGs consists in a pledge made by governments in 2000 to favor economic and social development throughout the world. The main goals agreed upon are the following: reduce by half the proportion of people living with less than a dollar a day, achieve universal primary education, reduce child mortality, and combat HIV/Aids malaria and other diseases, all by the year 2015.

Overall progress has been made, but under current trends, there is little chance of fulfilling the promises made by the members of the United Nations 5 years ago. The negotiation process of the outcome document has undermined the significance of this year’s Summit: government commitments have been watered down to the point of putting in jeopardy the attainment if the MDGs.

This press conference was only one of many events organized by civil society to express their concerns and hopes during the Summit. The MCC United Nations Office participated in several Interfaith services focused on the MDGs at the Church Center located across from the UN Secretariat building.

The office also met with Louis Michel, European Union Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Affairs, on September 15th to discuss, among other issues, the role of NGOs in the implementation of the MDGs. This week of events concluded with a reception hosted by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals campaign at the Quaker House.