decisions that affect their lives can provide a strong bottom up
pressure for more inclusive approaches to the MDGs.However, direct action to promote social justice through the MDGs
is not enough. It will need to be reinforced by action on other
fronts in order to create the necessary enabling environment to
sustain gains beyond 2015. Broad-based, employment-centred
economic growth can make a powerful contribution to sustaining
gains on the ‘economic’ MDGs while redistributive fiscal policies
can support gains in relation to the ‘social’ MDGs. Strengthening
formal and grassroots democratic processes is essential if the
institutions of society are to embody a shared vision of freedom,
equality, solidarity and tolerance among all citizens.
And finally we need to pay more serious attention to MDG8 and
the principles of international solidarity: those countries and groups
that have benefited most from progress on the global front have a
responsibility towards those countries and groups who have
benefited least. This requires genuine international partnerships
based on the principle of mutual respect and responsibility. This is
an ambitious agenda, easy to declare, hard to do. It is one of the
challenges that we carry with us into the post MDG world.
References
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Perfil Sociodemográfico en el marco da la Conferencia Internacional sobre la
Poblacion y el Desarollo y de las Metas del Milenio”, Notas de Población 79.
Santiago de Chile: CELADE
Kabeer, N. (2010) “Can the MDGs provide a pathway to social justice? The
challenge of intersecting inequalities,” MDG Achievement Fund and IDS,
Sussex.
Kabeer, N. (Podcast): the importance of putting the issue of social exclusion and
inequality firmly at the centre of the fight against poverty and all efforts to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/naila-kabeer-
podcast
Omilola, B. (2010). “Patterns and Trends of Child and Maternal Nutrition
Inequalities in Nigeria.” IFPRI Discussion Paper 00968.
United Nations MDG Achievement Fund: an inter-agency initiative that supports
national efforts to eradicate poverty and inequality and achieve the MDGs
http://www.mdgfund.org