Leading humanitarian agency World Vision at UN Week, MDG Summit

World Vision Urges Action on Child and Maternal Health at United Nations General Assembly in New York

NEW YORK, September 15, 2010—As world leaders gather for the 65th United Nations General Assembly, they will review progress made toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set in 2000 to halve extreme poverty by 2015. Leading humanitarian agency World Vision, whose projects reach more than 100 million people in nearly 100 countries, will be present to push for further concrete action on child and maternal health.

Although many of the targets are on track, MDGs 4 and 5—aimed at cutting child and maternal deaths—are the farthest behind. From September 20 to 22, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will convene the MDG Summit to chart the progress to date and announce new strategies to ensure achievement by the 2015 deadline.

World Vision leaders and expert spokespeople will engage in various events and high-level discussions, including:

STAND UP NYC - Global Call to Action against Poverty

WHEN: Sunday, September 19, Noon – 4 p.m.
WHERE: Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza
WHAT: Millions of people at events across the globe this weekend will ‘Stand Up and Take Action’ to demand world leaders end poverty and achieve the MDGs.
WHO: Sue Mbaya, Director of Advocacy & Justice for Children in Africa, World Vision International, will speak at 2 p.m.

FIVE YEARS FOR CHILDREN – World Vision, UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan Int’l

WHEN: Tuesday, September 21, 9 –10 a.m.
WHERE: UNICEF House (3 United Nations Plaza), Labouisse Hall
WHAT: Leaders of the world’s top child-focused NGOs will host a panel discussion breakfast event titled, “Five Years for Children: partnering with communities to achieve the MDGs with equity,” to highlight the challenges in reaching vulnerable and excluded children and identify the actions needed to strengthen results for all children.
WHO: Panelists: Kevin Jenkins, CEO of World Vision International; Nigel Chapman, CEO of Plan International; and Jasmine Whitbread, CEO of Save the Children International. Media RSVP required.

UN PRIVATE SECTOR FORUM 2010

WHEN: Wednesday, September 22, Noon – 2 p.m.
WHERE: United Nations Headquarters
WHAT: Chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the event will convene some 300 heads of state, chief executive officers and civil society leaders to discuss actions needed to achieve the MDGs by 2015.
WHO: Kevin Jenkins, CEO of World Vision International, will participate as chair of the roundtable discussion on Maternal and Child Health and HIV/AIDS.

SAVING 16 MILLION LIVES: The Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health

WHEN: Wednesday, September 22, 1 – 2 p.m.
WHERE: UN Week Digital Media Lounge, 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue
WHAT: This panel discussion will set the context for the UN’s groundbreaking new strategy, which the Secretary-General will launch directly following this briefing. These experts will take on the big issues and challenges faced by women and children worldwide.
WHO: Sue Mbaya, Director of Advocacy & Justice for Children in Africa, World Vision Int’l

EVERY WOMAN, EVERY CHILD: UN Secretary General’s Special Event

WHEN: Wednesday, September 22, 2:30 – 4 p.m.
WHERE: United Nations, North Lawn Building
WHAT: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will launch the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health and new commitments to help save the lives of millions, a concrete step toward delivering on the most-lagging MDGs.
WHO: Kevin Jenkins, CEO of World Vision International, will represent the NGO community’s progress and continued efforts in the work of saving women’s and children’s lives from preventable deaths.

World Vision senior leadership will also participate in various other events, such as the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting and the Blouin Creative Leadership Summit.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Interviews, b-roll and multimedia resources available at https://childhealthnow.com/unga-mediakit

About World Vision: World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities worldwide to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. To learn more, see www.wvi.org

About Child Health Now: For more about World Vision’s campaign, see www.childhealthnow.org

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Rachel Wolff at rwolff@worldvision.org or +1.202.615.2608
Tiffany Baggetta at Tiffany_Baggetta@worldvision.ca or +1.416.305.9612