What will take the place of Millennium Development Goals?
On Thursday 22 November, peers including the founder of a development NGO and the former chair of the United Nations Association will discuss the progress that is being made on developing the successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne (Liberal Democrat), who tabled and will open the debate, said:
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to debate an issue that I hold very dear to my heart. Having worked for a great many years in a number of countries with complex and continuing emergencies, I firmly believe that public health and education are the ladders which ordinary people affected by some of the worst conditions in the world – famine, extreme poverty, corruption, civil war – can use to climb out of their situation and engage in the decision-making process that will re-shape their world.
“The MDGs are a wonderful idea, but have so far failed to reach people in the most complex and fragile countries, who clearly need them the most. In this debate, I want to address how the British Government, Parliament and people have a big part to play in changing the lives of millions of the world's most needy people. With our Prime Minister heavily involved at a senior level in negotiations, we have an extraordinary opportunity to put forward serious, significant changes to allow the most basic human requirements to be met both affordably and on a permanent basis.”
Other Members scheduled to speak include:
- Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour), Opposition Spokesperson for International Development;
- Baroness Goudie (Labour), Chair of the Women Leaders' Council to Fight Human Trafficking at UN.Gift;
- Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative), co-Chair of Conservative Friends of International Development;
- Lord Hannay of Chiswick (Crossbench), former Adviser to the Executive Committee, World Federation of United Nations Associations and former Chair of the United Nations Association; and
- Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour), Founder and President of One World Action, a development NGO.
Lord Giddens (Labour), Lord Low of Dalston (Crossbench), Lord Cameron of Dillington (Crossbench), Baroness Massey of Darwen (Labour), Lord Crisp (Crossbench), Lord Chidgey (Liberal Democrat), Baroness Hayman (Crossbench), Lord Moynihan (Conservative), Lord Sheikh (Conservative), the Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench), Baroness Tonge (Independent Liberal Democrat), Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) and the Bishop of Bath and Wells are also expected to take part in the debate.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) will respond on behalf of the Government.
The debate is open to media and the public. Please allow time for security screening.
The debate will also be broadcast live on Parliament TV.
