The Millennium Declaration was adopted by 189 nations-and signed by 147 heads of state and government-during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000. The MDGs, eight ambitious goals to be achieved by 2015, are drawn directly from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration.The Goals express, in a single package, many of the most important commitments made at the UN international conferences and summits of the 1990s;they recognize explicitly the interdependence between growth,poverty reduction and sustainable development, while acknowledge that development rests on the foundations of democratic governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, peace and security.

›MDG Targets: Misunderstood or Misconceived? ›Road Map Towards the Implementation of the United Nations Millennium Declaration

The MDGs are based on time-bound and measurable targets accompanied by indicators for monitoring progress; and bring together, in the eighth Goal, the responsibilities of developing countries with those of developed countries, founded on a global partnership endorsed at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico in 2002, and again at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development in August 2003. The MDGs contain 8 Goals and 18 Targets that are monitored through 48 Indicators.

         "We will have time to reach the Millennium Development Goals – worldwide and in most, or even all, individual countries – but only if we break with business as usual.
We cannot win overnight. Success will require sustained action across the entire decade between now and the deadline. It takes time to train the teachers, nurses and engineers; to build the roads, schools and hospitals; to grow the small and large businesses able to create the jobs and income needed. So we must start now. And we must more than double global development assistance over the next few years. Nothing less will help to achieve
the Goals."

United Nations Secretary-General