By IANS,
New Delhi: The UN millennium campaign, which has been rallying behind world leaders reminding them about the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, has created a world record by mobilising the maximum support that any campaign ever has, officials said Thursday.
According to Minar Pimple, deputy director and head of Asia Pacific, UN Millennium Campaign, more than 173 million people gathered around the world in over 3,000 events spread across 120 countries to call for the fulfilment of the MDGs.
“Stand up, Take action”, as the campaign is called, saw an increase of 57 million people’s support than last year setting a new Guinness World Record over the last weekend.
“We have been certified by Guinness to be the world’s biggest social campaign movement for the fourth consecutive year. We are breaking our own record every year,” Pimple said at a press meet Thursday.
In India, the campaign saw the support of 23 million people – an increase of 14 million over last year.
The MDGs are a set of eight goals that were signed by 147 heads of nation, including India, at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000.
However, the civil society fears that work towards the goals has been slow and in some cases almost negligible.
The eight MDGs are: eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and women empowerment, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.
Annie Raja, general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), who had participated in the campaign’s various activities said: “Ground reality and our experience says that India cannot achieve the MDGs by 2015. Till the government denies women a part in the decision making procedures, none of these goals will be achieved.”