Millennium Development Goals: Progress ten years on

More than 140 world leaders are meeting in New York to review progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to reduce poverty, disease, hunger and inequality.

The targets were set by the Millennium Declaration signed in the year 2000, under former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The BBC's Mike Williams talked to Mr Annan about what he thinks of progress so far.

On Monday, the current UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, urged delegates at the MDG summit to stick to the task despite the world economic downturn and said they could be achieved by 2015.

But other speakers said that without sustainable economic growth it would be difficult.

To gain an assessment of what progress has been made, the World Today has been speaking to some of those involved.

Combat HIV/Aids:

Vuyiseka Dubula is the general secretary of the Treatment Action Campaign, an organisation in South Africa which advocates for increased access to treatment, care and support services for people living with HIV.

Universal education:

Dominga Villaverde de Rocha is a 79-year-old Bolivian woman who is learning to read and write.

Poverty:

Jockin Arputham is the president of Slum Dwellers International and lives in Asia's biggest slum, Dharavi, in Mumbai.

Maternal and child health:

This gynaecologist works at a maternity clinic in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Environmental sustainability:

Dr TH Culhane is a former circus clown who now works in developing countries, encouraging the use of renewable energy sources.

First broadcast 20-22 September