Beginning in 1990, the UN began identifying ways to improve human life around the world. Then, in 2000, at the Millennium Summit the UN developed a proposal grouped into eight specific goals titled “We the Peoples: The Role of the United Nations in the Twenty-First Century” by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The declaration asserts that people have innate rights as human beings that should be met regardless of nationality, income, education, or ability. The following is an outline of the eight goals and their importance in achieving those rights to all people.

Goal one is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. In this goal, the most basic of human needs is addressed in the form of food and shelter. Considering the desire to elevate people in various countries to a higher standard of living is met by addressing people who live on less than $1.25 per day. Also, employment centers have been developed to help people find jobs and work in underdeveloped countries. This is very important to achieve because many who intend to not fall into sickness and poverty must have this base need met in order to progress.

Goal two states the move to achieving “universal education”. In this goal, attempts to improve the level of education among the poor. Education breeds skills and confidence, and without education jobs are hard to achieve. In the poorer areas, there aren’t even schools to go to whether people wanted to or not. And education is viewed as optional to those who have to reach great distances to even go. This is very important to change because many vocations and jobs are impossible without education and this can perpetuate hardship with poverty.

Gender equality is goal three. Women and men are not viewed equally, and that affects the ability to earn wages, own land, and be in government offices. This extends beyond those areas to additional goals, specifically referencing education. Women aren’t often offered opportunities for secondary and primary education and the goal is to eliminate gender disparity preferably by 2005. This is especially important to accomplish because of a pattern that many successful and developed countries are seeing. In America, the workforce and corporate life are in deep need of and successful because of both men and women. Underdeveloped countries cannot afford to be sexist.

The fourth goal is child mortality rate decrease. In this goal, the primary focuses are mortality of children five years old and younger, as well as infant mortality rate of one year or younger. In addition, child immunization against disease like measles. The goal is built around a decrease of 2/3’s the amount of deaths in children in underdeveloped countries. This goal is important because it is an indication of what a person can expect for healthcare and it is a hugely important part of a persons life in development and abilities.

The Maternal health goal can be characterized in two separate categories, maternal mortality ratio and proportion of births attended by someone with health skills. The amount of children born outside of hospitals and without proper medical attention is alarming, and has also lead to a great deal of deaths while giving birth because complications in childbirth were unable to be attended to properly. In addition to this goal, measures of contraceptives and lowering adolescent birth rate are also a factor. This goal is a good focus because it improves the standard of living for women mentally and physically when they don’t have to worry about the safety of themselves or their babies. Also, it’s good to see that it attempts to address situations of possible overpopulation as well.

Combatting disease is goal six, specifically HIV/AIDS, malaria, etc. Many of the diseases that plague underdeveloped countries are treatable and curable. Those that aren’t like HIV/AIDS are preventable. Attempts to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS is the primary focus in that category. Education into how HIV/AIDS is spread and what precautions should be taken to not be affected by this virus. Malaria is also a big focus, and moves to have nets for infants to sleep under is just one of many measures to lower infections. But really, treatment is a huge part too and having trained staff and the medications to do so is a large part of it too. This goal is imperative because it helps keep the spread of the diseases that keep people from being able to go to work, school and serve in public positions and sometimes leads to death.

Goal seven states that an environment should have measures set to maintain and ensure sustainability. Programs within the countries that are affected by unsustainability have been started to reverse the loss of environmental resources and increase things like clean water, fish and animals that are safe to eat, and addressing species threatened by extinction. Basic needs of sanitation with water and sewer systems is a big focus. “Slum-Dwellers” or urban populations living in slums are being focused on in this goal. It’s important to ensure sustainability because as these other goals raise population and quality of life, the long term ability to handle that growth lies in the success of sustainability.

The last goal, goal eight, states global partnership for development is necessary. This is a big goal, and one that is going to require nations like the US getting on board. I’m not saying our country hasn’t, but how better to help these countries and give them patterns for success than ours? As much is politically wrong with our nation, there is something to be said for the average household income level the US enjoys. But this goal extends beyond the “how to” and goes directly into debt management, governments, trading policies, etc with countries that are the most in need. This goal is super important because it ensures there is sponsorship to guarantee success in the program. All the other goals kind of hinge off this goal because this goal sort of manages the rest of them from a country oriented standpoint.