SOLOMON ISLANDS: UN Goals Beyond Our Reach

Date: 
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Source: 
Solomon Star
Countries: 
Asia
Oceania
Solomon Is.
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Reconstruction and Peacebuilding

The seven MDGs include elimination of extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/Aids and other diseases and ensure environmental sustainability.

On MDG 1, the first target is to halve the proportion of people whose income is below the basic needs poverty between 1990 and 2015 – this is dragging (mix) according to the tracking report.

The second target of MDG 1 is to achieve full productive employment and decent work for all including women and young people – this is off track according to the report.

And target three of MDG 1 is to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger – there is improvement.

MDG 2 which aims to ensure children everywhere are able to complete a full course of primary schooling was recorded improved.

MDG 3, 4 and 5 which include gender equality and empowerment of women, reduce child mortality and improve maternal health were all recorded off-track.

On MDG 3, the tracking report stated that gender gaps persist, low economic participation and very low representation of women in parliament.

MDG 4, the report pointed out that there is no improvement in under five mortality, no improvement in infant mortality and less than full immunization coverage.

MDG 5, it stated there is weak data in maternal mortality, skilled attendance requires improvement, contraceptive use up but still low, teen fertility down but still high, 80 percent antenatal coverage and 11 percent unmet need for family planning.

The report pointed out that some targets on MDG 6 which is combating HIV/Aids and other diseases, have improved.

MDG 7 which is ensuring environmental sustainability has four targets, a few improvements otherwise also off track.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the international development goals that all 193 United Nationsmember states and at least 23 international organisations have agreed to achieve by 2015.