Leaders call on UN to set new zero poverty target

By
AFP
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Leaders call on UN to set new zero poverty target
UNITED NATIONS: The leaders of Britain, Indonesia and Liberia on Thursday called on the United Nations to set a target of 2030 to eradicate extreme poverty, as the spearhead of new development goals.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron said there had to be a "transformative shift" in production and doing business to eliminate the world's worst social ills.

The three headed a 27-member panel of ministers and business leaders which recommended 12 broad goals to eliminate poverty, secure universal access to water and create sustainable jobs.

But there report sets out radical aims including ending agricultural subsidies, closing down tax havens and making sure multi-national companies pay taxes fairly.

The new goals will replace the Millennium Development Goals which run out in 2015. The report by the three leaders will now be sent to the UN General Assembly which will debate new targets to be enshrined at a world summit in 2015. (AFP)