Halonen: Economic Crises Slow UN Goals
Tarja Halonen
Image: YLE
President Tarja Halonen is concerned that the global economic and financial crisis is threatening UN targets for development in the world's poorer societies.
Speaking Tuesday at a Presidential Forum discussion session, Halonen also noted that fluctuations in prices for food and energy are endangering UN Millennium Development Goals. Sub-Saharan Africa in particular is falling behind.
She added that global economic crises could possibly undo some of what has been achieved so far.
The best known of the UN Millennium Development Goals is halving extreme poverty by the year 2015, but include a number of other targets such as sustainable development, and providing universal primary education.
Halonen said she considers these all challenging and requiring coordinated international action. She also pointed to the role of development aid and said that developed nations should hold to the UN's target of contributing 0.7% of gross domestic product in aid by 2015.
YLE