UN Youth and Student Association

UNYSA-UK is active in campaigning for the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This set of eight goals, agreed in 2000, covers areas as diverse as health, education, poverty and the environment. Although we are halfway to the Goals’ deadline - 2015 - there remains much work to be done in order for them to be realised. Success is partly dependent on developed countries delivering on their commitment to devote 0.7% of their Gross National Income to development aid. To date, only five countries have achieved this.

For more information on the MDGs, visit UNA-UK’s website, and also the July 2007 issue of New World, dedicated to the MDG halfway point. Also, have a look at the UN’s MDG website.

An important aspect of the Goals is the establishment of partnerships between developed and developing countries to enhance the quality of life for millions of people in poorer societies. UNYSA-UK aims to raise awareness of the MDGs among young people in the UK, and also to lobby to ensure that the British government takes urgent and concerted action to achieve progress towards the Goals.

To achieve this, we will be holding a competition open to all British universities, asking participants to analyse the successes and failures of UK policy towards the MDGs, and to provide suggestions for improvement. More information on this project will be available shortly. In the meantime, contact unysa@una.org.uk for more details.