Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

70% of the world's poorest people are women and girls. The reality of the female face of poverty has not been fully factored into the indicators and targets of the MDGs. Progress towards reducing income poverty is being measured, but without a full analysis of the gender component of poverty reduction.

Achieve universal primary education

Achieving this goal is largely reliant on real progress being made on the MDG target to ensure gender parity in education enrolment. This target should have been met by 2005. But of the 113 countries that failed to achieve gender parity in both primary and secondary school enrolment by the target date of 2005, only 18 are likely to achieve the goal by 2015.

Promote gender equality and empower women

Despite significant progress worldwide in enrolling increasing numbers of girls into primary schools, secondary education remains an unattainable goal for millions of adolescent girls.

Targeted government action is needed, particularly for girls from poor and marginalised families living in rural areas.

Reduce child mortality

In many parts of the world more girls than boys die before the age of 5. An important factor here is that the birth preference for boys is a major concern in the 2 most populous countries on earth, China and India.

Combat HIV/Aids, Malaria and other diseases

It is widely acknowledged that children who face nutritional deficiencies in early childhood also face learning difficulties, leading to lower educational attainment. The call for governments to increase their investment in preventing and treating diseases like malaria cannot be louder.