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President,

Ten years ago I signed the Millennium Declaration here in New York together with other world leaders.

We made promises to improve the livelihoods of millions of people all over the world.

For the first time world leaders made concrete commitments to reduce poverty, to provide access to education, health and other basic services.

We have five years to make good on these promises. 

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We have made progress. Hundreds of millions have been lifted out of desperate poverty.

More children than ever before are in school. Millions of lives have been saved through vaccination and improved health services, clean water and better sanitation.

However, we are still lagging behind in reaching our goals. Our task is made even more challenging by the global financial crisis, by the dramatic effects of climate change and by the international food crisis.

And many countries have defaulted on their promises. More than one per cent of Norway’s gross national income is allocated to developing assistance.

And we are committed to retaining this level.

I encourage other countries to follow our example. Many have the capacity to do so, also in difficult economic times.

I call on developing countries to mobilise more of their domestic resources.

By broadening the tax base.

By fighting corruption.

By increasing transparency and improving accountability.

Illicit financial flows from developing countries is estimated to more than six times the total annual development assistance.

This drain on vital resources for development must be stopped.

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President,

Norway is a staunch supporter of all the Millennium Development Goals.

We have taken on a special responsibility for the goals of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

These are the goals that are lagging behind the most.

But they are within reach if the world makes an extra effort.

It is in our power to save those millions of women and children by twenty fifteen.

Save them from dying from easily preventable causes.

Simply by providing basic health services, clean water and vaccines.

Services that every child in developed countries receives as a matter of routine.

This is why Norway has tripled its aid for global health since we met here ten years ago.

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President,

We have worked with a network of global leaders to develop effective policies for maternal and child health.

Policies that reward results.

Donors and tax payers need to see results from their investments.

Partner countries must do their part.

To access new and additional resources, they must develop their own health systems and deliver basic services to their own citizens.

The health of our populations decides the economic health of our nations.

Health is a vital driver of development.

I commend the Secretary-General for his leadership in bringing our collective efforts to a new level.

His Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health deserves our wholehearted support.

I call on all countries and leaders gathered here this week to support the strategy with concrete political and financial commitments.

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President,

The Millennium Development Goals cannot be seen in isolation from climate change, armed conflict and women’s empowerment.

All countries will be affected by climate change.

But the most vulnerable, the poorest countries and peoples, those who have contributed least to the causes of climate change, will suffer most.

It is in regions affected by armed conflict and violence that we have made the least progress.

And we know that the single most important catalyst for change is women’s empowerment.

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We must honour our solemn promises made ten years ago here in New York. Building on the visions of the UN Charter, in which so much hope is enshrined.

Thank you.