Veleposlanik Ranko Vilovic, zamjenik stalnog predstavnika RH pri Ujedinjenim narodima, održao je govor 3. travnja 2008. godine na debati Opce skupštine UN-a na temu Milenijskih razvojnih ciljeva ("Millenium Development Goals")
Mister President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Croatia has aligned itself with the EU Statement but allow me to make a couple of additional remarks on this issue that my Government attaches a great importance to.
We have gathered to exchange views on the achievements and challenges of the Millennium Development Goals. But let us not forget that this acronym hides the goals that were agreed by all the world's countries and by all the world's leading development institutions. The crucial question is can we; the World's representatives gathered in the General Assembly be satisfied of our achievements? It has been stated already yesterday and today, only partially.
Have we halved extreme poverty? Have we provided universal primary education? Have we reduced child mortality and improved maternal health? Encouraging answers to these questions have been spotted throughout the world but on an uneven basis. Although parts of Africa have reached good results in achieving food security for its people, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia suffer from the lowest rates of progress and there has not been a sustainable reduction in the rates of poverty and hunger. We have to ask ourselves; have we done enough?
In order to achieve the MDG's not only in Africa but throughout the world; the official development assistance must be strengthened. However, developing countries also need to ensure that these commitments are being reflected in each key national development and poverty reduction policy and that the multidimensional causes and effects of poverty are being equally addressed.
We do understand that agriculture and infrastructure is the key for economic development and that a country lacking the means of developing those combined with a burden of debt can not be expected to move anywhere. Without forgetting the overall development agenda and striving to promote equitable and efficient distribution systems, the international community has to put a focus back on improving access to agricultural land and resources for people living in poverty since it is their essential toll of survival. Croatia puts a significant importance to the implementation of MDG's in the country.
We have provided the first National Report on the implementation of Millennium Development Goals in 2004 and the Interim Report in 2006 whereby we have modified some indicators accompanying specific national needs. The MDG's are incorporated in various government strategies. Croatia will fulfil its obligation emerging from the ODA commitments scheme.
Mister President,
Croatia is saddened by the fact that in the 21st century there are still around 72 million children who are not enrolled in primary school and therefore are destined to grow up without the basic right to education and deprived of hopes for a better future. We are aware that children in conflict and post-conflict situations need to continue with their education and that the effective action by international community is needed. We hope that the UN and countries of the Sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia will find the ways to change the opportunities for their children, especially by abolishing primary school user fees and ensuring a safe and equal access to schools for boys and girls. The investment in education that we make in children today will shape our future tomorrow. Therefore Croatian Government has undergone one step further in accordance with the mentioned modified indicators by introducing a mandatory secondary education for all.
Mister President,
It is not acceptable that every year over 500 000 women die during pregnancy and child childbirth? A high priority must be given to achieving universal access to reproductive health services in national health and poverty-reduction frameworks, especially through budget allocations. Laws and awareness raising campaigns against various forms of harmful traditional, cultural and religious practices can not be neglected if we want to change the rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.
Is the HIV infection, especially among young people preventable? It is but only through a comprehensive approach. But the decision to build a functional health system is a political decision in each donor country and in each concerned country. We can not heal the people without healing the system. The will to make drastic changes in the system must be pledged on the highest political level and this pledge must be effectively fulfilled on both sides.
Every year we witness 1.7 million new HIV infections in Africa that has already resulted in more then 13 million AIDS orphans. It is of the outmost importance to make investments in health systems, to train health personnel and to create cooperation between the State and civil society. The existing coordination mechanisms need more support and a common framework for monitoring evaluation of the progress has to be formed.
Mr. President,
The world has come far since the days where people used to steal land from each other and kill each other in the name of survival. We have human rights laws, humanitarian aid, civil society movements and still huge development issues. But we also have will and determination to make this world a better place for all. Our efforts to meet the needs of the world's poorest and the most in need is a legacy to our children; a legacy of a better world for them.
Priopćenja
