Development goals must focus on children
Children and their rights must be at the heart of the post-2015 development goals framework, UNICEF UK has said.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening gave evidence to the International Development select committee today on the development goals.
The UK's core focus is to reduce poverty through helping to drive economic growth and create jobs for the poorest and most vulnerable people.
Prime Minister David Cameron is co-chair of the UN High Level Panel on the successor to the Millennium Development Goal framework. At a meeting of the panel last week he said the next stage should be aiming to eradicate absolute poverty.
Rosalind Stainton, international policy and research officer at UNICEF UK, said:
"The Millennium Development Goals have contributed to substantial progress for millions of children around the world.
"However, the agenda is unfinished with millions of children still unreached and goals unmet. The post-2015 framework should finish what has been started whilst also addressing important challenges to development which were left out of the MDGs, including climate change.
"Equity, sustainability and human rights must be central to the new development agenda, with investments in people, especially children and the most vulnerable, prioritised.
"When framing the decisions for the future of people and the planet, we need to consider not only our own children, but also future generations. Therefore it is crucial that children and young people should be involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of the new development agenda."
At last week's panel meeting Mr Cameron said:
"There is more progress to be made between now and 2015, but we are clear the next stage should be aiming to eradicate absolute poverty in our world.
"That is something politicians have been talking about for a while, but for the first time I believe this generation really has the opportunity to do it."
The meetings covered food, energy, education, jobs, health care and how best to reach those excluded from the traditional pathways out of poverty.
The panel will continue discussions over the next eight months before meeting again in Monrovia, Liberia, early in 2013.
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