“If it wasn’t for the Millennium Development Goals, I probably wouldn’t be here,” said Pablo Aguilera, a young man living with HIV, at an event in May about the global development agenda.
As he noted, the MDGs helped make the fight against HIV and AIDS an international priority. As a result of strong international action, 9.5 million people in developing countries were receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy in 2012 — important progress in the effort to combat this devastating disease.
Aguilera’s words are a powerful reminder of the value of the MDGs: By creating a shared, concrete agenda, these goals have mobilized citizens, businesses, governments and organizations to act so millions of additional people have opportunities to stay healthy, go to school, earn an income and build a better future for their families.
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About the author
Kathy Calvin
Kathy Calvin is president and chief executive officer of the United Nations Foundation. Her career has spanned work in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She is a passionate advocate for multi-sector problem-solving, U.S. leadership on global issues, and the inclusion of women at all levels and in all sectors.
