US Servas | Key Person Workshop Report

UN Reports |

Spring 2004

US Servas Participates in the UN Millennium Development Goals

By Noema Chaplin, Alternate US Servas UN Rep & Sharon L. Wallenberg, Main US Servas UN Rep

Human rights and human development are profoundly tied and lie at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals. Each goal can best be achieved when we address the rights-related issues of equality, non-discrimination, participation, inclusion, accountability, and social justice – as well as international solidarity and cooperation. This means that approaches to achieving the Millennium Development Goals must be based on human rights with attention not only to development results, but also to the way in which development is pursued.

In September 2000, 189 governments committed to:

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.
Develop a Global Partnership for Development.

Freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, and shared responsibility are at the heart of the Millennium Declaration. The United Nations Secretary General’s Road Map Towards Implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration goes even further in saying that human rights should be central to peace, security, and development programs.

More Importantly, the Millennium Goals are unique because for the first time:

They represent a compact between the so-called developed and developing countries towards a shared responsibility;
They recognize that the goals are inter-linked and achievable, but only if there is the necessary political will and willingness to be accountable for actions;
They offer a minimum threshold–level of transparent and measurable outcomes, targets, and indicators, rendering themselves open to independent monitoring;
They are nationally adapted with development models and policies being generated to achieve the goals, which are owned and driven by the people of the country in an open and participatory manner as active citizens.
They offer enormous potential because the relationship between peace and the Millennium Goals is an interdependent and mutually reinforcing one.

US Servas is on the cutting-edge of implementing the Millennium Goals in the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) community. US Servas Representatives to the United Nations, Sharon Wallenberg, Main Rep, and Noema Chaplin, Alternative Representative, are on the Planning Committee for the United Nations Annual NGO Conference to be held in the Fall. The Conference is considered the premiere NGO event. It will focus on the Millennium Goals: what they are; what is being done now to implement them; and where are we going in the future. The contribution of the US Servas Reps, along with others on the Planning Committee, will produce the necessary venue to involve the NGO community, and then the public at large, to a greater understanding of, and participation in, the Millennium Development Goals.

More Information on the UN Millennium Development Goals >

For more information about US Servas' UN activities or to get involved, contact the main US Servas UN Rep, Sharon Wallenberg at sharonw77@hotmail.com.


UN Reports \| Spring 2004 US Servas Participates in the UN Millennium Development Goals By Noema Chaplin, Alternate US Servas UN Rep & Sharon L. Wallenberg, Main US Servas UN Rep Human rights and human development are profoundly tied and lie at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals. Each goal can best be achieved when we address the rights-related issues of equality, non-discrimination, participation, inclusion, accountability, and social justice – as well as international solidarity and cooperation. This means that approaches to achieving the Millennium Development Goals must be based on human rights with attention not only to development results, but also to the way in which development is pursued. In September 2000, 189 governments committed to: 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. Develop a Global Partnership for Development. Freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, and shared responsibility are at the heart of the Millennium Declaration. The United Nations Secretary General’s Road Map Towards Implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration goes even further in saying that human rights should be central to peace, security, and development programs. More Importantly, the Millennium Goals are unique because for the first time: They represent a compact between the so-called developed and developing countries towards a shared responsibility; They recognize that the goals are inter-linked and achievable, but only if there is the necessary political will and willingness to be accountable for actions; They offer a minimum threshold–level of transparent and measurable outcomes, targets, and indicators, rendering themselves open to independent monitoring; They are nationally adapted with development models and policies being generated to achieve the goals, which are owned and driven by the people of the country in an open and participatory manner as active citizens. They offer enormous potential because the relationship between peace and the Millennium Goals is an interdependent and mutually reinforcing one. US Servas is on the cutting-edge of implementing the Millennium Goals in the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) community. US Servas Representatives to the United Nations, Sharon Wallenberg, Main Rep, and Noema Chaplin, Alternative Representative, are on the Planning Committee for the United Nations Annual NGO Conference to be held in the Fall. The Conference is considered the premiere NGO event. It will focus on the Millennium Goals: what they are; what is being done now to implement them; and where are we going in the future. The contribution of the US Servas Reps, along with others on the Planning Committee, will produce the necessary venue to involve the NGO community, and then the public at large, to a greater understanding of, and participation in, the Millennium Development Goals. More Information on the UN Millennium Development Goals > For more information about US Servas' UN activities or to get involved, contact the main US Servas UN Rep, Sharon Wallenberg at sharonw77@hotmail.com.
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