Thursday video: Obama on development goals

Martin Rendón is the Vice President for Public Policy & Advocacy at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

As a committed UNICEF supporter and Believer in Zero, perhaps you’ve been following the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, and UNICEF’s major role in making sure that the Summit attendees understood that the MDGs for children can be reached faster with a focus on the most disadvantaged.

Yesterday, President Obama addressed the UN summit on Millennium Development Goals and announced a first-ever U.S. global development policy, that focuses on partnering with developing countries and multilateral organizations like UNICEF to ensure development results.

He reminded the delegates from around the world: “When a child dies from a preventable disease, it shocks all of our consciences.” The President recognized the world’s progress in improving health and fighting poverty; but he also recognized that for the millions of children who die every year, that progress is not fast enough.

We’re glad that President Obama is committed to working with the U.S. Congress to meet the challenge of achieving the MDGs with equity. That includes U.S. Government support for UNICEF. But right now, we need your help! Congress still needs to act on UNICEF’s funding for Fiscal Year 2011. Please join the thousands of others who are asking their elected representatives to come through for children and for UNICEF by committing $134 million for FY 2011.