Prominent personalities supporting the United Nations’ work have agreed to champion yet another cause: accelerated progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Dozens of U.N. messengers of peace and goodwill ambassadors committed to “use every opportunity they have to raise awareness for the Goals and the September 2010 U.N. Summit,” the U.N. has announced in a statement.
The U.N. is convening more than 150 world leaders, private sector representatives and civil society officials for a high-level summit on the MDGs at the organization’s headquarters in New York.
Among the personalities who pledged support for the cause are football player Ronaldo of Brazil, Queen Rania of Jordan, actress Mia Farrow of the U.S., writer Paulo Coelho of Brazil, musician Annie Lennox of the U.K., singer Ricky Martin of Puerto Rico and tennis player Maria Sharapova of Russia.
Off track
Meanwhile, the Philippines is reportedly in danger of failing to meet the second MDG: providing universal access to primary education.
The Asian country’s net enrollment ratio from 2008 to 2009 is at 85.1 percent, according to a report by the National Economic and Development Authority. The level is “still far” from the U.N. target of 100 percent, Erlinda Capones, director for social development at NEDA, said according to Malaya.
