We must shift the arms race into a 'peace race.' Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Between now and 2015, we must make sure that promises made become promises kept. The consequences of doing otherwise are profound: death, illness and despair, needless suffering, lost opportunities for millions upon millions of people." - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Progress to date has lifted millions of people out of poverty, saved lives, and ensured that children attend school. It has reduced maternal deaths, expanded opportunities for women, increased access to clean water, and freed many people from disease. However, there is still a long way to go in empowering women and girls, promoting sustainable development, and protecting the most vulnerable from the devastating effects of conflicts, natural disasters, and rising prices for food and energy.
In January 2012, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released his "5 Year Action Agenda," which gives high priority to achieving the MDGs by engaging in "transformative multi-stakeholder partnerships with various social actors, including civil society organizations."
The Universal Peace Federation's programs develop innovative ways to meet the MDGs and other difficult challenges facing the human family. It supplements the UN's perspective with the understanding that peace and prosperity for the human family cannot come through human effort alone. UPF advocates forming an interreligious council within the UN system to draw upon the insights of the world's religious traditions to address global issues.
