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MANILA, Philippines -- Don't forget your pledges to help improve the lives of poor and marginalized people, and meet the Millennium Development Goals, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon reminded developed countries Monday.
At the press conference following his opening address at the government meeting of the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development, Ban said the effects of the economic downturn on the UN agenda to eliminate poverty, solve the food crisis, and mitigate the effects of climate change was "worrisome."
That's why, Ban said, he wanted to send his "clear and strong" message to world leaders to continue to support development initiatives and "not to lose sight of the sufferings of developing countries."
He said he would repeat this message to the G-20 meeting in Washington, D.C. on November 15.
Ban praised the European Commission for allocating 15 million euros for migration and development projects in 16 developing countries, including the Philippines even in the face of the economic slowdown.
"This is a product of the political will of developed countries and I call on them not to lose this political will," he said.
The UN chief said he was reminding developed countries "to keep their promises already made [prior to the current crisis] in the G8 meeting in 2005 to give $50 billion a year for the next 10 years" so that the MDGs would be met.
Ban said he was confident that these countries would keep their promises because in the high-level meeting on the MDGs in New York on September 25, leaders of developed countries made $17 billion of new commitments to the UN agenda.
In his speech at the University of the Philippines which conferred him an honorary doctorate degree, Ban recognized that as rich countries dealt with the crisis, they might have to spend less on social services and assistance to the poor.
"Some may even struggle to keep commitments made to provide development assistance. This will threaten global efforts to attain the Millennium Development Goals," he said in UP.
"The United Nations will continue reminding all countries of their commitments to the MDGs. It is our job to maintain a constant, insistent and loud voice in defense of the voiceless and the marginalized," he added.
The eight MDGs, with specific targets for 2015, are: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.
