The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), were agreed to by world leaders at the UN Millennium Summit in 1999. They set time-bound, measurable goals and targets for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women.

As we move towards the 2015 deadline, it is crucial that the goals are promoted and supported if they are to be attained.

Goal 1 - Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2 - Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3 - Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4 - Reduce child mortality by two-thirds for children under five

Goal 5 - Improve maternal health

Goal 6 - Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases

Goal 7 - Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8 - Develop a global partnership for development

Although progress is being made towards the MDGs, it is uneven and slow. A large majority of nations will only be able to achieve the MDGs by 2015 if they get substantial support - advocacy, expertise and resources - from outside nations.  The legal profession can make a large contribution to this effort.

Every piece of advice provided through A4ID furthers the UN MDGs in some way and, in so doing, helps to reduce world poverty.

Many elements of the legal advice and assistance provided through A4ID have a direct impact upon specific goals. A key part of our work, for example, concerns the rights of women - Goal 3. Core projects include:

• Advising Plan International on the extent of girls' rights throughout the world;
• Working with WOMANKIND Worldwide to protect women in Afghanistan; and
• Supporting women entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia through the Trestle Group Foundation.

By supporting an open, rules-based, predictable and non-discriminatory trading and financial system, A4ID promotes Goal 8 - the development of a global partnership for development. This goal is further supported through our partnerships with the business and development communities to aid the sharing of ideas and information.

Further information on the MDGs can be found at http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/