MSI: Why was the Millennium Campaign set up?

Amil Husain: The Millennium Campaign was launched in 2002 by the Secretary General of the United Nations to support the efforts of citizens to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It was clearly recognized that without the help of individuals, the Goals would never be met. The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan put it best: "Political will shifts only if there is national and local mobilization by the public, and only when leaders are held accountable. Appeals by international organizations are one thing. But what would really make a difference is if, at the local level, the Goals achieve a critical mass of support and even become 'vote-getters.'"

Working at both the national and international levels, the ambition of the Campaign is to inspire a global movement to achieve the Goals and eradicate extreme poverty by 2015.

The Campaign persuades existing organizations, networks, and movements focusing on issues like trade, education, health, women's rights, debt, AIDS, and development—essentially all those working for a fairer and better world—to come together under a single banner to show a unity of purpose and the strength of common determination. Importantly, we are not just drawing in traditional campaigning organizations like NGOs and faith-based organizations, but also local authorities, youth groups, parliamentarians, the media, celebrities, and the general public.

Our premise is simple: we are the first generation that can put an end to extreme poverty around the world, and we refuse to miss this opportunity.

MSI: Do we have the right tools and resources to reach the MDGs?

Amil Husain: Today, we not only have the financial resources to end extreme poverty once and for all, but we have the technological knowledge and know-how to realize all of the goals by 2015.

About $900 billion was invested in arms by governments in 2003 alone; $300 billion each year is spent by rich countries to support domestic agricultural producers but only an additional $70 billion per year in additional aid is needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

However, many regions are still far off track, and in some countries the quality of life for poor people is getting worse. If we continue at today's pace, Sub-Saharan Africa won't achieve its goal to reduce the percentage of people living in extreme poverty by half until 2147!

MSI: What are the major challenges to achieving the Goals?

Amil Husain: It is clear that if we do not change the political climate immediately, the Goals will not be achieved. Only by changing the political will of world leaders to come through on their promises to achieve the Goals can we hope to end poverty by 2015.

No politician will act unless they have pressure from their constituency to do so. Government leaders have the habit of attending to international conferences, making great promises to end poverty, then returning home without taking any actions. Promises can't feed the hungry, promises can't educate girls and promises can't fight HIV/AIDS. Only concrete action can save lives and it's up to everyone to make their governments accountable to the promise they made to the world. We need every voice to get things moving and young people must be part of the movement.

The Goals represent a global agreement between the rich and poor countries, each having their own role to play to make the world a better place for all people.

It is the primary responsibility of poor countries to achieve the first seven Goals covering poverty, hunger, education, health, the environment and women's rights. Poor countries must do more to incorporate the Goals into their policies, plans and budgets and translate them into services and benefits for the poor. There is also need for more transparency and accountability so people can follow whether their governments are taking the right steps to move forward.

But poor countries cannot achieve their first 7 Goals unless rich countries fulfil their promises on Goal 8. The developed countries have promised to give more and higher quality aid, increase trade opportunities for poor countries, and provide greater debt relief to struggling countries.

MSI: What has the Millennium Campaign done to involve young people in achieving the MDGs?

Amil Husain: There is no doubt youth are an integral part of the global movement against poverty. There are 2.8 billion people under the age of 25, and in the developing world, youth comprise 70% of the population. But young people have to make their voices heard and this is not always easy.

Working with groups like the World Organization of the Scout Movement, TakingITGlobal, the Global Youth Action Network, and World Association of the Girl Guides and Scouts, the Millennium Campaign has been linking existing youth movements with the MDGs to create a global movement of young people working towards making their world a better place.

The Campaign has spearheaded the creation of a Youth Campaign Kit which will be globally launched in May giving young people the outlet to create their own advocacy campaigns on the Millennium Development Goals.

For the youth of the world, tomorrow's future will be defined by what they do today. You are the generation that will benefit if the Millennium Development Goals are accomplished and you will be the ones who will suffer if the world refuses to come together and save the lives of the disadvantaged.

You will all have to decide if you are tired of the millions of people going hungry each day, if you are tired of children not receiving a proper education, if you are tired of your governments breaking promise after promise to help the poor countries of the world. All of the Millennium Development Goals are achievable by 2015. We know what should be done and we have the resources to do it.

Remember you could be the first generation in the history of the world to finally put an end to world poverty so please refuse to miss this opportunity.

Amil Husain, the Global Youth Coordinator of the UN Millennium Campaign, speaks on the broad issue of the MDGs, including the mandate of the Millennium Campaign. The Millennium Campaign was launched in October 2002 to encourage citizens around the world in their efforts to hold governments accountable for the promises they made at the September 2000 Millennium Summit, where government leaders from the highest political level of every country in the world agreed to a set of eight time-bound targets that, when achieved, will end extreme poverty across the planet. Working at both the national and international levels, the ambition of the Campaign is to inspire a global movement to achieve the Goals and eradicate extreme poverty by 2015.