Assess anti-poverty objectives of Monterey summit

 

Overview: World leaders have convened at the United Nations-sponsored summit in Monterrey, Mexico to present ways of alleviating poverty and improving the lives of approximately one-sixth of the world population. Identify the goals of the Millennium Summit Declaration in 2000. Have students outline strategies that the United Nations could apply to help the countries identified by the Monterrey summit as in need of assistance.

Curriculum Connections: Current Events, Economics

Have students read the story, "International forum spotlights global poverty," and answer the following questions:

1. What is the name of the U.N.-sponsored summit being held in Monterrey, Mexico during the week of March 18? What is the Monterey Consensus? Approximately how many world leaders are expected to intend the conference and sign the Monterey Consensus?

2. What was the Millennium Summit held in September 2000? What goals were agreed upon at that summit? How does the summit being held in Mexico further the objectives of the Millennium Summit? What percentage of the world's population is expected to benefit from the implementation of the resolutions of the Monterrey Summit?

3. Ruth Jacoby is a Swedish Foreign Ministry official who co-chaired the preparations for the U.N. International Conference on Financing for Development. When asked what the world leaders could be expected to accomplish at the summit, Jacoby said, "A couple of ministers will probably have spent a couple of hours thinking about things they don't normally think about." What do you think Jacoby meant by that statement? How do other comments made in the story corroborate Jacoby's statement that the goals of the conference are "lofty" and that the long-term results of the summit's resolutions may be difficult to measure?

4. Refer students to the United Nations Millennium Declaration learn more about the 2000 Millennium Summit Declaration. Point out to students that the declaration is divided into ten sections:

• Values and principles
• Peace
• Security and disarmament
• Development and poverty eradication
• Protecting our common environment
• Human rights
• Democracy and good governance
• Protecting the vulnerable
• Meeting the special needs of Africa
• Strengthening the United Nations.

Divide the class into ten groups and have each group create a poster identifying the goals of their assigned section. After students have presented their findings, display the posters around the room.

5. Refer students to the Web sites below and other resources to identify countries identified by the Monterrey summit as countries in need of economic assistance. List the countries on the board and have each student select a country and conduct research on that country's profile, including its economy, politics, and culture. Then, direct each student to outline specific strategies that the United Nations could apply to help that country in as many of the ten sections of the Millennium Summit Declaration as applicable. Have students share their findings. Then ask: Do you think the goals of the Millennium Summit can be reached by 2015 to assist that country? Why or why not?