In September 2000, at the United Nations Millennium Summit, world leaders agreed to set a time-frame for measurable goals and targets to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and gender inequality.
The MDGs are a set of globally agreed upon goals, aiming to reduce poverty in all its forms around the world and to achieve the many and varied development challenges. The 8 goals are broken down into 18 quantifiable targets that are measured by 48 indicators that are to be achieved by 2015.
MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
MDG 5: Improve maternal health
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
MDG 7: Ensure environment sustainability
MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
Achieving these 8 goals will lead to halving extreme poverty and hunger; universal primary education for all boys and girls; progress towards gender equality; sharply reduced rates of death for children and mothers; a halt and reversal of the spread of HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis; more sustainable use of natural resources; and stronger partnerships between the nations on issues of aid, trade, debt and technology.
For more information about the MDGs in general, you can visit the UN Millennium Project web site at : http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/