ABSTRACT
In September 2000, at the historic Millennium Summit, the 189 member-states of the United Nations (including the heads of state of 147 countries present at the Summit) unanimously adopted a document known as the “UN Millennium Declaration.” Under this document they pledged to work towards a world in which sustainable economic development, the eradication of chronic poverty, and the promotion of peace and social justice would receive the highest priority. After consultations with a number of international organizations within the UN system, as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the UN General Assembly recognized seven “Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs) as an integral component of Millennium Declaration (see Table 2.1).
