Millions of people continue to face a daily struggle to live in dignity. In 2000, countries around the world agreed to eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a global initiative to eradicate poverty by 2015.
Ten years on - five years from the deadline - these goals are still not a reality. Progress has been made, but it has been unequal. Goal five on improving maternal health, for instance, is the most off-track of all of the MDGs. Hundreds of thousands of women and girls continue to die in pregnancy and childbirth each year, and most of them live in the poorest countries and communities.
No solution to poverty will have any long-term impact without human rights at its core. At the United Nations MDG Summit in September, world leaders will decided on a plan of action to step up their fight against poverty.
MDG 5 to reduce maternal mortality is a key example. Women and girls continue to face discrimination and inequality that increase their risk of maternal mortality.
As UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has recommended, to make real progress, all efforts to meet the MDGs must put human rights at the centre.
This includes reaching the most excluded, empowering women, ensuring the participation of people in poverty and holding governments to account.
Protecting the rights of people living in poverty is an essential piece of any solution.
Call on world leaders to put human rights at the heart of the MDGs and the global fight against poverty, sign this petition here and we’ll add your voice to Amnesty International’s campaign to be delivered to leaders at the Summit in later this month.
More ways to take action on the MDGs:
Join Stand Up 2010 17-19 September – Make some noise for the MDGs!
People around the world will be taking part in the annual Stand Up event, this year aimed at the MDGs. We did it at the CIVICUS World Assembly (link video when we’ve got it or picture from the WA closing ceremony as per the article). Join a group or organise your own Stand Up action.
Get the right to information 
Transparency and free flow of information are key to fighting poverty and achieving the MDGs. Use your right to know how governments are investing in delivering the MDGs with Right2info.
Free the Hungry Billion
Tell your leader that it's time to agree on a plan for the eradication of global hunger with ActionAids Hungerfree.
Get tweeting with Oxfam for the World I Want
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